COVID Funding Cessation and Claim Deadline
This is to advise that from 1st July 2024 the following changes apply to the national approach to COVID-19 funding.
New Zealand has moved beyond the COVID-19 pandemic response and is transitioning to a ‘business as usual’ response. The move to manage COVID-19 as part of business as usual is consistent with Health New Zealand’s |Te Whatu Ora’s (Health NZ) approach to managing other communicable diseases across the health system, with a number of COVID-19 pandemic-specific services already disestablished as part of this process. This allows us to refocus on other parts of the health system to meet the evolving health needs of New Zealanders.
From 1st July 2024:
General Practice/UCC/ARC:
COVID RAT and PCR assessment and testing will no longer be funded from 1 July.
Funding of COVID Care will no longer be funded.
Funding of Advance Prescribing of anti-viral medication will no longer be funded
Funded administration of COVID-19 vaccines will remain available for eligible people until 30 June 2025, from 30 Nov 2024 afterhours funding for vaccine delivery will cease. See here for more info.
Access to funded PPE will end 30 June 2024
A range of clinical telehealth services will also no longer be available from 1 July.
Pharmacy:
COVID-19 antiviral medicines remain funded and available for eligible people at pharmacies. See here for eligibility criteria. See revised funding table below.
Free RATs for public distribution via community pharmacies continues until 30 September 2024.
Access to funded PPE will end 30 June 2024.
Pharmacist initiated Paxlovid Supply
Funding will be extended for pharmacy supply of Paxlovid. See COVID-19 page for further information.
Strict Claiming Deadlines
All final claims, outstanding payments or claim queries must be submitted no later than 20th July 2024. Strictly from this date no further claims will be accepted.
A reminder that positive RAT tests or PCR claims from 1 December 2023 should have been submitted using the POAC PMS claiming system. If this has not been done, please ensure all claims submitted by 20th July. Note that this applies only for eligible patients and cannot be claimed in addition to the Initial Assessment for COVID Care.
Claim or Payment Queries
All outstanding payments or claim queries prior to 1st May 2024 should be submitted using the link HERE to allow tracking of queries. Due to the high volume, and to ensure receipt, please do not email these.
Please attach any lists in Excel format, including the date of service, service provided, and NHI.
Please circulate this information across your teams and ensure all relevant staff are aware of these changes and deadlines.
If you have any questions, please contact Deanna Williams deannaw@easthealth.co.nz
For further information, please visit our website www.poac.co.nz/covid-19