Asthma (POAC)

All Pinnacle practices in Waikato region can claim for this service. 

Patients with moderate asthma exacerbation that can be safely managed in the community. 

The minimum trial of therapy prior to initiation of POAC is: 

• 1 spacer/nebuliser therapy; and
• oral prednisone.  

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. 

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

Once the episode of care is completed and the patient is no longer acutely unwell, they exit the POAC programme.  

Once the patient exits the POAC programme, the case requires a clinical outcome to be lodged. No payment can be made for any claims unless the outcome is completed.  

Where treatment in the community is no longer clinically appropriate, the patient may be admitted to hospital during a POAC plan of care. Please indicate this in the clinical outcome.  

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: $1.00 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: $79 or RN follow up: $39 or

Rural GP/NP/CP follow up: $89 or RN follow up: $49 or

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

Afterhours GP/NP/CP follow up: $99 or RN follow up $59

This funding can be claimed when care is provided after 5pm, on weekends or on public holidays.

A follow-up visit may be funded (based on treatment provided as evidenced in clinical notes).

This is limited to one consult within the acute episode of care. While follow up consultations can be virtual, to be eligible for funding, documentation needs to include a two-way conversation between the practice and the patient. A sent message with no documented response does not meet the definition of a consultation.

Practices are required to provide sufficiently detailed consultation notes to determine appropriate use of POAC funding otherwise the referral may be declined.   

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.