Medicubes Talking HealthTech

In this special budget edition of Medicubes, hosts Chris and Riwka delve into the healthcare highlights of the May 2024 federal budget. Chris and Riwka unpack the key updates relevant to primary care practice managers, exploring financial allocations, policy changes, and their implications for general practice and broader healthcare settings.
Key Talking Points:
Discussion on the new timeframe for claiming bulk-billed services and its impact on practice workflows. Practices will need to adjust as the claim period reduces from two years to 12 months after the date of service, effective 2025-2026.
Overview of the funding to strengthen Medicare, including compliance and infrastructure improvements, alongside the ongoing independent review of Medicare integrity.
Extension of the Practice Incentives Program Quality Improvement (QI PIP) funding for an additional year, ensuring continued support for general practices.
Allocation of $90 million over three years to grow and support the health workforce, with a focus on First Nations medical practitioners and the extension of the single employer model trials.
Significant investment of $227 million over three years to establish an additional 29 urgent care clinics, aiming to bolster primary care options, especially in regional and rural areas.
Increases in rebates for pathology tests, permanent addition of COVID-19 tests to Medicare, and expansion of MRI services with new licensing agreements.
Chris and Riwka provide a comprehensive breakdown of these budget changes, helping practice managers understand the potential impacts and prepare for the implementation of new policies and funding awards.

Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

In this episode of Medicubes, hosts Chris, Riwka, and Kim are joined by guest Robert Dickson to delve into the latest findings from the Touchstone report, a comprehensive analysis of primary care billing trends and practices in Australia.
Robert, the Chief Operating Officer at Cubiko, brings both his passion for healthcare technology and personal interests into the conversation.
The ebook is available at: https://www.cubiko.com.au/resources/general-practice-benchmarks-2024/
Key Talking Points:
Private fees range from $81.14 to $137 on average but have not escalated at the pace of inflation or Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) rebate amounts. The moderation in fees reflects practices' cautious approach to adjusting prices amidst their patients' financial strains.Despite economic pressures, the report demonstrates a commitment by practices to chronic disease management with an uptick in the percentage of billings dedicated to this crucial area over the past two years. Discussing the financial repercussions and sustainability concerns faced by healthcare providers. As the bulk billing rate dipped from 81% to 65% in early 2022, and practices primarily bulk billing reducing from 60% to a mere 25% by the end of 2023.Examining the varied landscapes of regional and metropolitan primary care, noting the disparities in telehealth services, online appointments, and nurse-led interventions.The effectiveness of recent incentives, such as the government’s triple bulk bill incentive for concession patients and children under 16, which has witnessed a small yet positive shift in billing rates for these groups.
Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

In this episode of Medicubes, hosts Riwka and Kim speak with special guest Denise Lyons, an experienced Nurse Practitioner in Newcastle. Denise provides insights into the role and evolution of nurse practitioners in Australia, shedding light on their qualifications, scope of practice, financial viability, and future prospects within the healthcare sector.
Key Talking Points:
The expansion of nurse practitioners into various clinical settings and their role in increasing access to care for marginalised and vulnerable populations.Qualifications and education pathways for aspiring nurse practitioners, and the rigorous process involved in obtaining endorsement and the commitment required for nursing professionals pursuing this advanced role.Exploring the scope of practice for nurse practitioners, highlighting their ability to assess, diagnose health problems, order and interpret tests, formulate treatment plans, prescribe medicines, and collaborate with other healthcare professionals within their areas of expertise.The financial sustainability of nurse practitioner services within health practices, addressing the challenges and potential models for making nurse practitioner services financially sustainable, with a focus on collaborative care and proposed changes to legislation that impact their practice.The transformative role of nurse practitioners and the need for seamless collaboration with other healthcare providers, reflecting on the positive impact on patient care and access to services.
Check out this episode for valuable insights into the evolving role of nurse practitioners and their integral contribution to primary care, and understand how the future of nurse practitioners could shape the delivery of healthcare in Australia.

Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network, the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

In this episode of the Medicubes podcast, hosts Kim, Riwka, and Chris delve into the critical topic of effective communication within primary care practices. 
Key Talking Points:
The significant impact of verbal, non-verbal, and written communication on team dynamics and overall perception within a primary care practice.Showcasing real-life examples of how swift adaptation to varied communication methods was pivotal in navigating the challenges faced by general practices during the COVID-19 period.Emphasising the importance of understanding and acknowledging individual communication preferences within a team to ensure effective messaging delivery.The discussion comes full circle to underscore how communication strategies need to evolve with the changing dynamics of a practice, and the need for consistent feedback and recalibration to ensure effective communication is maintained.
Make sure you subscribe to the Medicubes podcast and visit www.medicubes.com.au for more episodes and additional information.

Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network

First episode back for 2024!
In this episode, Chris and Riwka welcome practice management professional Leonie Chamberlain to the show. With more than two decades of experience within general practice, Leonie provides insights into the different aspects of general practice supervision and management.
Key Talking Points:
The impact of recent changes to the NTCER, especially regarding the administrative time allocated to registrars and how these modifications should be reflected in practice diaries.The significance of constructive supervision in healthcare to foster a young and diverse demographic of doctors, ensuring excellence in patient care. Practical tips for creating a supportive and inclusive environment for registrars, from their orientation to daily practice operations. The significance of managing schedules to maintain efficient appointment timings, and the delicate balance when negotiating remuneration beyond the NTCER, and the value of being upfront about responsibilities regarding income.
Make sure you subscribe to the Medicubes podcast and visit www.medicubes.com.au for more episodes and additional information.
Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network.

In this episode of the Medicubes Podcast, hosts Riwka and Kim are joined by Dr Tony Lembke, an experienced GP and former clinical director of the Australian Primary Care Collaborative. The episode focuses on the topic of quality improvement in general practice and its impact on patient care, practice sustainability, and provider experience. Dr Lemke shares his insights and experiences from working with numerous general practices, providing practical examples of quality improvements and discussing the importance of a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Talking Points:

Dr Lembke explains the concept of quality improvement and its significance in achieving better care, health outcomes, and practice sustainability.

He shares practical examples, such as proactive chronic disease management, reducing interruptions for doctors, and implementing new processes for workflow efficiency.

The discussion delves into building a culture of quality improvement, fostering psychological safety within teams, and the importance of collaborative learning and sharing innovative practices.

The Model for Improvement is explored, including the thinking and doing parts, with an emphasis on small iterative steps and measurement to drive continuous improvement.

The episode also addresses the challenges and opportunities for practices in innovating and sharing new initiatives, with real-life examples of successful collaborative learning.

Dr Lembke's final message focuses on the culture of kaizen (continuous improvement), encouraging practices to adopt a joyous and easy approach to quality improvement, with a focus on patient-centred care.

Make sure you subscribe to the Medicubes podcast and visit www.medicubes.com.au for more episodes and additional information.

Resource Links;
RACGP Standards for General Practices QI Standard 1 Criteria and Indicators

Institute of Healthcare Improvement: Model for Improvement

Australian Safety and Quality Framework for Healthcare

W. Edward Deming’s 14 Points for Total Quality Management

Medical Business Services | Membership options for access to monthly online Q & A networking meetings

Medicubes is a proud member of the Talking HealthTech Podcast Network - the premier audio destination for cutting-edge insights and thought leadership in healthcare delivery, innovation, digital health, healthcare ICT, and commercialisation. Learn more at www.talkinghealthtech.com/podcast/network