Another new MBS item for GP care, but will it help?
The Federal Government wants management plans to help patients quit smoking
Another new MBS item is looming with the aim of supporting GP care.
The latest suggestion from the Federal Department of Health is a dedicated item to fund at least 20 minutes of smoking cessation counselling with GPs who will then be tasked with drawing up a management plan.
The RACGP is not keen, warning about the proliferation of single disease/condition MBS items and the dangers of fragmenting care.
But the department’s reform idea seems linked to the decision to downgrade from October this year nicotine-containing e-cigarettes from Schedule 7 – a dangerous poison – to Schedule 4 prescription only.
