Asthma (POAC)

All practices in the Tairāwhiti region can claim for this service. 

Patients with moderate asthma exacerbation.

Patients domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti area

• Any patient with severe, life threatening asthma, including the pre-hospital treatment that has been provided, as admission to hospital is inevitable. 
• Mild asthma exacerbation. 
• Repeat asthma medication consultations. 

• Patients not domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Tairawhiti area

Exclusion criteria to access POAC funding should not preclude emergency treatment of any medical conditions. 

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. If the claim is unable to be funded by POAC, the patient may be liable to the practice for the fees incurred. 

Prices listed below are GST inclusive.

Please make your claim via Primary Options, select Asthma and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

Practice observations: $1.03 per minute 
Practice observations – maximum 2 hours and based on treatment provided as evidenced in clinical notes. This invoice can only be claimed at the time of the initial consultation.

In-clinic observations can be claimed based on 3 x 10 minute baseline observations per hour.

GP/NP/CP follow up: $81.37 or RN follow up: $40.17 or

Rural GP/NP/CP follow up: $91.67 or RN follow up: $50.47 or

This funding is available to those practices that receive rural funding. 

Afterhours GP/NP/CP follow up: $101.97 or RN follow up $60.77

This funding can be claimed when care is provided after 6pm, on weekends or on public holidays.

One follow-up consultation may be funded on the same day the patient presents acutely. This funds review post treatment to ensure it is clinically safe for the patient to leave the practice, as evidenced in clinical notes.

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of POAC funding.  

It has been recommended that in addition to a good assessment and history, the full range of appropriate observations should be documented, especially where the diagnosis is undetermined. It is important to state the time of consultations and interactions with the patient.

The initial 15-minute GP/NP consultation incurs the usual consultation fee paid by the patient. All POAC services thereafter are provided at no cost to the patient. 

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora.