Claiming Telehealth
Before claiming any of the COVID-19 Telehealth items, GPs are reminded that it is a legislative requirement that GPs and Other Medical Practitioners (OMPs) working in general practice can only perform a telehealth or telephone service where they have an established clinical relationship with the patient. There are limited exemptions to this requirement.
![](/sites/default/files/styles/limit_height/public/2021-03/telehealth%20970%20x%20440.jpg?itok=OOU0r09K)
Patients are eligible for GP and OMP telehealth services if they have an established clinical relationship with a GP, OMP, or a medical practice. This requirement supports longitudinal and person-centred primary health care that is associated with better health outcomes. An established relationship means the medical practitioner performing the service:
-
has provided a face-to-face service to the patient in the last 12 months; or
-
is located at a medical practice where the patient has had a face-to-face service arranged by that practice in the last 12 months (including services performed by another doctor located at the practice, or a service performed by another health professional located at the practice, such as a practice nurse or Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker); or
-
is a participant in the Approved Medical Deputising Service program, and the Approved Medical Deputising Service provider employing the medical practitioner has a formal agreement with a medical practice that has provided at least one face-to-face service to the patient in the last 12 months.
The existing relationship requirement does not apply to:
-
children under the age of 12 months;
-
people who are homeless;
-
patients living in a COVID-19 impacted area;
-
patients receiving an urgent after-hours (unsociable hours) service; or
-
patients of medical practitioners at an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service.
A COVID-19 impacted area is one where a person’s movement is restricted by a state or territory public health requirement that applies to the person’s location. This includes patients subject to quarantine, and other restrictions intended to support infection control.