Health
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Hospital Circular 12/2000

Date Issued: 27.June 2000
Publication: 12/2000
Distribution: Acute Health Circular Registrants
Attention: Public Hospitals, Extended Care Centres, Metropolitan Health Services, Regional Offices
Subject/s:

  1. Public hospital fees
    1. Private Admitted Patients
    2. Compensable Admitted Patients (excluding WorkCover and TAC recipients)
  2. Schedule 5 of the Default Table- Surgically Implanted Prostheses and Human Tissue Items
  3. Medicare eligibility for children and their carers from the Chernobyl region
  4. The First National Chronic Disease Self-Management Conference
  5. Administration matters

1. Public hospital fees

  1. Private Admitted Patients

    1. Overnight stays and same day patients

      The State Department of Human Services Victoria (DHS) has determined that the fees for 2000/2001 for private overnight stays and same day patients in public hospitals effective 1 July 2000, will increase from the 1999/2000 level (Acute Health Circular 8/1999) by 2.8%. This represents the percentage change in CPI for the all groups weighted average of eight capital cities March 1999-2000 quarters. If there are any further adjustments to these fees, you will be informed in the usual way by Hospital Circular.

    2. Patient classification for fund benefit purposes

      The Commonwealth has advised that the patient classification schedule for fund benefit purposes has changed as a result of amendments to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) with effect from 1 May 2000. Refer Commonwealth Circular HBF 631.

    3. Day only arrangements-amendments to the Type B (Day Only) and Type C (exclusion) Lists

      The Commonwealth has advised that amendments to the 1 November 1999 Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) will affect the day only arrangements effective 1 May 2000. Refer Commonwealth Circular HBF 632.

  2. Compensable admitted Patients (excluding WorkCover and TAC recipients)

    DHS has increased these, effective 1 July 2000 until further notice, by 2.8% (ie the percentage change in CPI for the all groups weighted average of eight capital cities March 1999-2000 quarters).

  3. Schedule 5 of the Default Table- Surgically Implanted Prostheses and Human Tissue Items

    1. ATO advice on GST for Schedule 5

      Refer Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care HBF Circular 639

    2. Amendments to the February 2000 Determination Schedule 5

      Refer Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care HBF Circular 642 effective from 16 June 2000.

2. Medicare eligibility for children and their carers from the Chernobyl region

The Commonwealth advises that a group of some 50 sponsored children and their adult carers from the Chernobyl region will be arriving in Australia from the Ukraine on or around 15 June 2000, and staying in Victoria for 7 weeks. The majority will be staying in Metropolitan Melbourne or in the vicinity; and a few in remote Victoria.

Public hospitals are advised that that during the period of the visit, these children, and the carers accompanying them from Chernobyl, are entitled to the same Medicare entitlements as children and their carers from Chernobyl have had on previous visits. Item 6, Acute Health Circular 3/1999, 'Medicare eligibility for children from the Chernobyl region' refers. If you have any enquiries, please contact Ms Tanya Taylor, Ph: (02) 6289 8607 or Mr Craig Rayner Ph: (02) 6289 7312, Medicare Eligibility Section, Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care.

3. The First National Chronic Disease Self-Management Conference

The Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care advises it is hosting the National Chronic Disease Self-Management Conference 31 July/1 August 2000. Refer Commonwealth Circular HBF 635 for details.

4. Administration matters

  1. Automatic notification of new Circular releases

    Background

    As previously advised, everyone internal and external to the Department is welcome to register with the Department to be notified by E-mail of the release of new Acute Health Circulars, by registering with the Department as follows:

    • If you are located within Department offices (Head Offices, Regional Offices) you will need to be added to our Internal E-mail Circular Distribution List. Please notify Ms Lyn McFarlane, Office of the Director, Acute Health on telephone (03) 9616- 8073.
    • If you are not located within the above, and would like to be added to our E-mail Circular Distribution List (eg public hospitals), please forward your name, title, organisation, work address and E-mail address to lyn.mcfarlane@dhs.vic.gov.au
    Correction

    The e-mail address was incorrect on the website and has now been corrected as above. Apologies are conveyed. You may wish to re-email your registration request if it was sent back to you "undelivered". Enquiries can be directed to the Manager, Electronic Service Delivery, Acute Health, Department of Human, Services on E-Mail warwick.bullen@dhs.vic.gov.au, Fax: 03 96168458, Ph: 03 96168425.

  2. Enquires contact number has changed

    The Commonwealth Department has advised that the Private Health Industry Branch 24 hour answering machine contact number for enquries has changed from 02 6289 8786 to 02 6289 7406. (HBF Circular 638 refers).

  3. Internet sites Commonwealth Department HBF Circulars:

    Updates to the Fees and Charges for Acute Health Services in Victoria: A Handbook for Public Hospitals ('State's Fees Manual') in accordance with this Circular advice.

CHRIS BROOK
DIRECTOR
ACUTE HEALTH

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