The Department of Health and Ageing is seeking your help with notifying GPs in your Division about a new referral pathway for children with autism or any other pervasive developmental disorder (PDD), available through the MBS from 1 July 2008. GPs will have a key role to play, given that they are frequently the fist point of contact for children who have, or are suspected of having, autism or any other PDD.
The referral pathway provides access to new MBS items being introduced as part of the Government's Helping Children with Autism package, which involves funding of $190 million over five years. The measure also provides education and support for families and carers, and professional development for teachers and other school staff.
The new items will enable consultant psychiatrists and paediatricians to diagnose and manage children with PDDs. As part of the package, participating allied health professionals (AHPs) will be able to assist referring consultant physicians in the diagnosis of - andtor the preparation of a PDD treatment and management plan for children aged under 13 years. Eligible children will be able to receive up to four (4) of these services, in total, with the referring practitioner having responsibility for how these services are allocated to participating AHPs.
New items will also be available for eligible AHPs to provide PDD treatment services to children aged under 15 years (where the child has received a PDD treatment and management plan from a consultant psychiatrist or consultant paediatrician prior to their thirteenth birthday). Eligible children will be able to receive up to twenty (20) of these services, in total, with the referring practitioner again having responsibility for how these services are allocated to participating AHPs.
AHPs eligible to provide these new items are general psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists. Further information on the initiative is available from the Department of Health and Ageing website at - www.health.gov.au/autism
More information on other early intervention elements of the Helping children with autism package can be obtained fiom the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs website at - http://www.fahcsia.gov.au/internet/facsinternet.nsf/disabilities/services-help_child_autism.htm
Thank you in advance for your assistance in ensuring GPs in your Division are aware of this
important new initiative.
Yours sincerely
Director
Chronic Disease and Mental Health Items Section
are Financing Branch
June 2008
Primary & Ambulatory Care Division MDP 71 GPO Box 9848 Canberra ACT 2601 Telephone: (02) 6289 4101 Fax: (02) 6289 7120 ABN 83 605 426 759
