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7 April 2022 To: DHB CEs, Primary Care stakeholders, Professional Peak Bodies, DHB Planning and Funding Managers, DHB COVID-19 Care in the Community Senior Responsible Officers, Care in the Community Hubs Tēnā koutou I’m writing to let you know about how Long COVID in primary care and in the wider health and disability system will now be funded and managed. We hope this will provide some clarity and certainty for the sector going forward, as our understanding of this condition continues to evolve. As you know, all COVID-19-related care for those patients in the acute stage of their infection is currently fully funded by the Crown, as early diagnosis and isolation are key to stopping the spread of the virus. Funding is already available to Primary Care to cover a single post COVID19 review. Based on current evidence, it is clinically appropriate to treat any presentations beyond that time as outside the acute infection stage. Once the acute phase of the COVID-19 infection is resolved, any longer-term presentations six weeks after day zero should be managed in the same way as other long-term conditions. (Day Zero being the first day of symptoms or date of first positive test, whichever is earlier.) Funding There is currently no additional COVID-19 funding for the investigation and treatment of Long COVID. As a long-term condition, it will be funded in the same way as other medical conditions and emergencies. For patients reporting persistent symptoms beyond their acute infection, the post-COVID review can be utilised to plan any ongoing care that may be clinically indicated. After this, normal copayments for general practice appointments will apply, as well as part charges for emergency ambulance callouts, and prescription co-payments at community pharmacies.. Specialist level treatment will be funded by DHBs, or self-funded if accessed privately. Rehabilitation guidance and service delivery The Ministry is continuing to develop its approach to Long COVID rehabilitation guidance and service delivery and will be sharing this with the sector as information and evidence comes to hand. The Ministry’s Long COVID programme includes:
monitoring DHBs that have/are establishing specific services for Long COVID to help develop a change package for others who may want to do the same maintaining a currency of emergent evidence to inform clinical pathways for the identification and management of Long COVID