Effective communication between GP and patient is an important part of a clinical service and vital to achieving clinical outcomes.
There are many factors affecting communication, including a language barrier where an interpreter is necessary, hearing issues, speech difficulty, intellectual disability and/or dementia.
For GPs claiming for time-tiered MBS items, total consultation time includes the time required to communicate effectively with the patient.
Should more time than usual be required for effective communication between GP and patient, it is reasonable to claim a longer attendance item than might otherwise be expected for the service.
This applies to both face-to-face and telehealth services.
GPs and other providers should make a record in the patient’s notes about why extra time was required. For example, adding ‘consultation extended due to use of interpreter’, and, if relevant, citing the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS) job number.
When calculating the timed attendance item for a consultation, only the time spent with the patient face-to-face, or on the line in a telehealth call, can be counted.
Find out more