The Asthma Cycle of Care has replaced the Asthma 3+ Visit Plan.

An Asthma Cycle of Care includes at least two asthma related consultations within 12months for a patient with moderate to severe asthma noting that the review visit must be planned. To complete an Asthma Cycle of Care you must:
1. Document diagnosis and assessment of asthma severity and level of asthma control.
2. Review the patients use of, and access to, asthma related medication and devices.
3. Provide a written asthma action plan (or documented alternative if the patient is unable to use a written action plan).
4. Provide asthma self-management education
5. Review the written or documented asthma action plan.
(for a greater detail of the above steps please utilise links below for Completing the Asthma Cycle of Care - A guide for General Practitioners.)

Practice signon payment

To sign on to receive Asthma Cycle of Care payments contact Medicare Australia PIP enquiry line on 1 800 222 032 for an application form. There is a one off payment for registering. If your practice originally registered for Asthma 3+ Visit Plan this automatically carries over to Asthma Cycle of Care.

Claiming your Asthma Service Incentive Payment (SIP)

You must meet the Asthma Cycle of Care requirements in a minimum of 2 visits (within a 12month period)
All visits should be billed under the normal attendance items with the exception of the visit that completes the Asthma Cycle of Care, then claim using appropriate Medicare item number as listed below:

GENERAL PRACTITIONER ATTENDANCE

Level B Surgery Consultation 2546
Level B Out-of-Surgery Consultation 2547
Level C Surgery Consultation 2552
Level C Out-of-Surgery Consultation 2553
Level D Surgery Consultation 2558
Level D Out-of-Surgery Consultation 2559

OTHER NON-REFERRED ATTENDANCES

Surgery Consultations
Standard Consultation 2664
Long Consultation 2666
Prolonged Consultation 2668

Out-of-surgery Consultations
Standard Consultation 2673
Long Consultation 2675
Prolonged Consultation 2677

Alternative asthma care using MBS Chronic Disease Management items

The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items provide an alternative funding mechanism to the SIPs for providing best practice care of patients with chronic conditions, including patients with asthma. For patients with asthma alone a GP should choose to use either GP managed care through the CDM items (GP Management Plan GPMP), or provide an Asthma Cycle of Care, but not both services for the same patient as the work involved in both services overlaps (these items should not both be claimed in the same twelve months). For patients with asthma and complex needs requiring care from a multidisciplinary team, a GP may provide team-based care using the CDM items (for most patients this means a GPMP and a Team Care Arrangement TCA), and the Asthma Cycle of Care. A CDM review item and an Asthma Cycle of Care should not be claimed within three months of each other as the work involved overlaps.
More detailed information on the CDM items is available from Medicare Australia on 132 150 or in the Medicare Benefits Schedule Book.

Seretide inhaler priming device – client leaflet

HALER AID Client Leaflet

COPD Action Plan – Queensland Government

COPD Asthma Plan – Australian Lung Foundation

Associated Links:

Asthma Cycle of Care general information

Completing the Asthma Cycle of Care- A guide for General Practitioners.

Spirometer Guide from National Asthma Council

Asthma Management Handbook (Revised & Updated 2006)

National Asthma Council Visit the Health Professionals page for the Asthma Management Handbook, Asthma Action Plans, Spirometry resources, Information papers, Professional development and other resources.

Asthma Qld

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