The Weekly GP Update

What changed

Prescriber accreditation under the s100 Highly Specialised Drugs Program has been removed for hepatitis B and C medicines. Any medical practitioner (and authorised nurse practitioners) can now initiate and maintain PBS-subsidised HBV antivirals such as entecavir and tenofovir without prior s100 accreditation. The PBS restriction criteria still apply for subsidy.

In the consult

You can start and continue hep B treatment from the rooms without the accreditation paperwork - one less reason to park these patients with the hospital liver clinic. Hep C stays GP-prescribable under the general schedule as before.

PBS notice →ASHM summary →

What changed

Mepolizumab is now on the PBS as an add-on to triple therapy (ICS/LAMA/LABA) for adults with uncontrolled COPD and raised eosinophils - the first biologic listed for COPD.

In the consult

Biologics stay specialist-initiated, but expect the severe-COPD cohort to come in asking. If someone keeps exacerbating on triple therapy with an eosinophilic phenotype, a respiratory referral just gained a new argument.

Pharmacy Daily report →PBS 1 Sep update →

What changed

Enfortumab vedotin (Padcev) in combination with pembrolizumab (Keytruda) is now PBS-listed first-line for locally advanced or metastatic urothelial cancer, replacing the chemo-only starting point. Keytruda's indications were also expanded.

In the consult

Oncology-initiated - awareness only. Useful context when a bladder cancer patient mentions the new treatment from their last oncologist visit.

Pharmacy Daily report →

What changed

In its submission to the Australian National Audit Office's performance audit of Medicare Urgent Care Clinic funding, the RACGP argues political pressure to stand UCCs up quickly was not matched by governance arrangements, creating patient-safety risks and unsustainable demands on the workforce. The college restates that UCCs must complement, not compete with, general practice - and that the same services could run through local practices if the funding followed.

In the consult

Nothing to change in the rooms this week. If a UCC operates near your practice, the funding argument is now formally on the record with the ANAO - the college is pushing for that money to flow to existing general practices instead.

newsGP →

What changed

The MBS Review Advisory Committee's draft report on time-tiered GP consultation items concludes the per-minute gap between short and long consultations is too great. Its fastest fix: increase benefits for level C, D and E items (leaning toward the RACGP position rather than the AMA's seven-tier rebuild), convert bulk-billing incentives from flat fees to a percentage of the MBS fee, and retain rural loadings.

In the consult

Nothing to bill differently yet - it is a draft, not a determination. But it is the strongest official signal so far that long-consult rebates will rise; if a consultation period opens, it is worth a response.

The Medical Republic →

What changed

The Northern Gold Coast Medicare Mental Health Centre at 29 Dixon Drive, Pimpama opened on 27 August. Commissioned by GCPHN and operated by Open Minds, it provides free, confidential walk-in mental health support - no referral, appointment or mental health treatment plan needed. The team includes psychologists, social workers, AOD counsellors and peer workers. Open Mon-Fri (7am-6pm Tue and Thu, 8:30am-4:30pm otherwise), closed weekends. Enquiries 07 5348 9181.

In the consult

A genuine new option for northern Gold Coast patients in distress: hand over the address and phone number without writing a referral or MHTP. An allocated Gold Coast Health nurse practitioner handles coordination back to primary care.

GCPHN →

What changed

Wellbeing Week is back for a third year - free community events across the Gold Coast through September built around connection and kindness, developed with the Gold Coast Suicide Prevention Collaborative, GCPHN and City of Gold Coast.

In the consult

Something concrete to offer the isolated patient who does not need a service but does need people - worth a mention in consults this month.

GCPHN →

What changed

GCPHN reports declining flu vaccination rates on the Gold Coast across children, adolescents and older people, with fewer annual influenza vaccines given than in previous years. Even as the weather warms, flu season is still active on the Coast.

In the consult

Keep the opportunistic flu-vax offer going into spring, especially for the chronic disease list and older patients. One correction to the GCPHN piece: it mentions six-monthly boosters for over-75s, which is COVID cadence, not flu - the Australian Immunisation Handbook recommends one influenza vaccine every year for everyone from 6 months up, with the enhanced (adjuvanted or high-dose) vaccine preferred for 65+. Flu did not clock off with winter.

GCPHN →Immunisation Handbook →