Date: 2 November 2022
Monkeypox – Care in the Community Update On the 9th of July 2022, Aotearoa New Zealand reported its first case of Monkeypox. Since this date, a further 26 cases have been reported, bringing the case numbers to a total of 27 as of the 25th of October 2022 (both active and recovered). Nine of these cases have been identified as being acquired overseas, with the remaining 18 being community transmission. Currently, the Care in the Community programme is limited in its scope to the provision of care for COVID-19 positive patients, including access to welfare/manaaki services and the Alternative Isolation Accommodation (AIA) service. However, as a response to the Monkeypox outbreak, the National Public Health Service, Outbreak Response, Te Whatu Ora Health New Zealand has agreed to support the provision of Clinical Supports and AIA as required. In terms of welfare/manaaki supports, the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) will be able to support positive patients in understanding if there are additional supports that they are entitled to. Information regarding this can be found on their website: https://workandincome.govt.nz/covid-19/. On 7 October 2022, the Care in the Community team released the Monkeypox Assessment – Claiming Guide for Primary Care document which outlined the fee schedule and claiming process for Primary Care clinicians who clinically support those with Monkeypox. For the purposes of the provision of AIA, the Outbreak Response directorate is providing the assurance that any AIA required for Monkeypox patients will be fully funded. Operationally, each Public Health Service (PHS) will not be able to use the existing AIA management company (Orbit) as they are contracted to provide only COVID-19 related AIA through the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. As a result, it will be important for each local PHS to engage with local accommodation providers to ensure that they have some options for isolating Monkeypox patients as required. This engagement will need to ensure that adequate Infection Prevention Control (IPC) mechanisms are in place, and that the local IPC clinicians are engaged to properly inform AIA contracting. Key Update Notes: • • • •
Primary Care funding mechanisms are in place and were issued on the 7th of October 2022; Welfare/Manaaki service provisions will be provided through MSD should the patient be eligible for these supports; and Local PHS’s are responsible in ensuring that they have appropriate alternative isolation accommodation provision in their local areas. AIA will be funded by the National Public Health Service Te Whatu Ora on a case-bycase basis.