Cellulitis (POAC)

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

• Antibiotic treatment for patients aged >= 15 years with moderate cellulitis.
• Patients with a clear diagnosis of cellulitis who are haemodynamically stable. 
• Refer to community management of soft tissue infections for careful patient selection criteria.  

• If needing to extend the course of IV antibiotics for longer than three days – please discuss with infectious diseases specialist and document this in the notes.  

• Patients aged < 15 years.
• Cellulitis covered by ACC (please see the ACC Cellulitis programme page)
• Pregnancy.
• Septic arthritis/prosthesis present/underlying fracture.
• MRSA carrier.
• Administration of IM antibiotics.
• Incision and drainage of abscesses and associated dressing changes.
• Post-operative wound dressings.
• Skin infections e.g impetigo, infected excema

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 cannot 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 Cellulitis and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

Oral cellulitis: $79

Maximum of three in person visits for oral antibiotic management of cellulitis.

The purpose of these visits is to ensure the infection is improving, monitor medication compliance and ensure other comorbidities and social circumstances are addressed.

IV cellulitis: $87 per day  

IV antibiotic administration for up to three days where clinician has concerns re adherence/absorption of oral antibiotics.

These invoices are a package of care i.e. they include an allocation for staff time as well as consumables, they cannot be claimed along with any other claims. 

If IV antibiotics are administered on day 4 this must be approved by infectious diseases and that approval documented. Additional doses will only be funded if the discussion is clearly documented and included in the case 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. 

If IV antibiotics are administered on day four this must be approved by infectious diseases and that approval documented. Additional doses will only be funded if the discussion is clearly documented and included in the case notes. 

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.