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Funders and Providers for COVID Care in the Community Covid Care in the Community (CitC), Outbreak Response, National Public Health 29 June 2022 Primary Care CitC Funding Q&A
Purpose of this document This Q&A seeks to provide some guidance to DHBs and providers as to how the COVID-19 Care in the Community (CitC) funding for primary care can be applied.
Principles The principles of the CitC Primary Care funding are as follows: • •
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To reduce the spread of COVID-19 and reduce barriers to accessing appropriate care for people with symptoms consistent with COVID-19 – Assessment and testing funding To ensure that those with COVID-19 can receive clinical care during their acute illness to enable them to safely isolate at home – CitC funding: chart review and contact; initial clinical assessment; clinical escalation; regular review etc. To recognise the additional complexity of face-to-face consultations when a person has COVID-19 and has an urgent medical emergency that cannot be deferred until after the isolation period for COVID-19 has been completed or managed virtually – CitC funding: In person care in a clinic To provide advice to people who have persistent symptoms beyond the isolation period which may impact on their ability to return to normal activities after the end of the isolation period – CitC funding: Follow-up check (up to six weeks post-COVID)
It is not possible to provide a set of rules that will cover every possible scenario. Providers should apply clinical decision making in line with the principles outlined above so that public funding can be used appropriately. DHBs have a responsibility to monitor provider claims and seek clarification when provider claims appear to be an outlier in comparison to other provider claiming activity across any of the COVID funding streams.
Q&A How many times can a COVID assessment be claimed if RAT is negative? Although one COVID assessment can be claimed per patient per day, it is unlikely that many patients will need to be assessed daily following a negative RAT. If the person re-presents with on-going/worsening symptoms and COVID-19 remains a realistic potential cause of the symptoms, further claims can be made for reassessment within the same illness episode. However, if COVID-19 has been excluded as the primary cause for the presenting symptoms patients should be advised in advance that normal charges apply Can an “In person care in a clinic” be claimed when a person with COVID presents with an unrelated condition? When a person is isolating with COVID-19, most clinical care should be provided via non-contact means. All COVID and non-COVID presentation during that period should be triaged and if not urgent, further assessment should be completed remotely or deferred until after the isolation period has been completed. In person care in a clinic should be reserved for people presenting with acute conditions requiring urgent assessment and treatment only.
Functional accountabilities in a COVID-19 Response 20/06/2022