EmailHospital Circular 28/1995
Date Issued:
26 September 1995
Publication: 28/1995
Contact: Regional Office
Distribution: Public Hospitals, Health
Insurance Funds, State Nursing Homes, Extended Care Centres
Subject:
Changes
in Fees and related matters
Purpose: The
purpose of this circular is to advise of changes in:
- Fees for Residents in State Nursing Homes; Nursing Home Type Patients (NHTPs) in Recognised Hospitals; and Future arrangements for notifying Health Insurance Funds and State Nursing Homes
- Day Only Arrangements amendment and future arrangements for notifying Health Insurance Funds
1. State CAM/modified SAM Nursing Homes
State CAM/modified SAM Nursing Home (hereafter called State Nursing Home) fees are determined in accordance with the relevant circulars issued by the Commonwealth. The Revised State Nursing Home resident contribution is $25.50 per day ($178.50 per week) effective from 21 September 1995.
Nursing Home Type Patients (NHTPs) in Recognised Hospitals
The Victorian Department of Health and Community Services has increased its NHTP contribution rate to an amount of $25.50 per day, effective from 21 September 1995.
DVA NHTPs in Recognised Hospitals
As advised most recently in H&CS Circular No. 5/1995, under the Repatriation Private Patients Scheme, Nursing Home Type beddays will be paid by H&CS on the standard rates applicable.
Fees for medical and diagnostic services, and for prostheses provided to eligible veteran inpatients are claimed from DVA (Circular 5/1995 refers).
As a result of the above, please make the following update to the State Fees manual: Fees and Charges for Acute Health Services in Victoria: A Handbook for Public Hospitals:
Nursing Home Type Patients
replace page 18, in part 1, Fees for Admitted Patients.
26/9/95 28/1995 Regional Office
Future arrangements for notifying Nursing Homes which receive Commonwealth benefits.
Nursing Homes fees are determined in accordance with the relevant circulars issued by the Commonwealth. Accordingly the State Department will cease publishing these fees, including residents= fees and SAM and CAM components, in its Fees Manual: Fees and Charges for Acute Health Services in Victoria: A Handbook for Public Hospitals.
Instead, information regarding the above fees will only be available to Nursing Homes, which receive Commonwealth subsidies, from the Commonwealth through its "The Nursing Home Manual", subsequent amendments and related updates. This is available from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health, Aged and Community Care Division. This is effective immediately.
If State Nursing Homes require any information on Commonwealth-regulated fees, they should contact their respective Commonwealth officer who administers their agency's claims.
As a result of this change, could you please make the following updates to the manual Fees and Charges for Acute Health Services in Victoria: A Handbook for Public Hospitals:
Nursing Home Fees
replace page 2, in part 3, Fee for Other Services. This change is effective immediately.
2. Day only arrangements
The Victorian Department of Health and Community Services has recently received from the Commonwealth Department of Human Services and Health, a copy of the Commonwealth Circular No. 422 advising that with effect from 16 August 1995 the following item number will be added to the non-band specific type B day procedure list:
30676 - pilonidal sinus or cyst, sacral sinus or cyst, excision of
You should refer to the MBS of 1 November 1994 and/or MBS supplement of 1 July 1995 for full descriptor.
Future arrangements for notifying Health Insurance Funds of Day Only Arrangements relating to Commonwealth Circulars
Given that the Commonwealth circulates its Circulars regarding Day Only Arrangements to Registered Health Funds, Private Hospitals, and Day Hospitals, the State Department of Health and Community Services will no longer include these bodies on its mailing list in relation to Commonwealth circulars on Day Only Arrangements. This is effective immediately.
Public Hospitals will continue to be notified by the State Department of the effective date of future forms of change to Day Only Arrangements.
DR MICHAEL WALSH
DIRECTOR
ACUTE HEALTH SERVICES
