Queensland Health says it will reimburse GP clinics for privately bought flu vaccines after medical practices were caught unaware by the government’s free flu initiative and raised concerns they would be left out-of-pocket.
It comes after GP clinics were caught unaware on Monday when the state government announced through media that all Queenslanders could access a free flu jab until June 30 from their GP or pharmacy.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the state government had set aside up to $40 million for the scheme which covered people aged six to 64 years old.
GP clinics were left unsure if the cost of flu vaccines they had already purchased but administered during the free vaccine period, would be refunded, and were scrambling to get clarification on Tuesday as they were inundated with people seeking the free jab.
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath told ABC Radio Brisbane’s Breakfast program on Tuesday the government would be covering the cost of those vaccines.
But late on Tuesday Queensland Health did not provide information about whether previously bought influenza shots would be reimbursed in response to questions from the ABC.
It confirmed in a document circulated to GPs on Tuesday night their clinics would be reimbursed for privately purchased stock, saying more information about how refunds would work would be provided.
Acting chief health officer Peter Aitken said in a Queensland Health letter on Wednesday morning the state government would reimburse practices for privately purchased influenza vaccines from May 24 to June 30, at a cost of $21.95 per dose.
The scheme does not change anything for people who receive free flu vaccines under the National Immunisation Program - people aged 65 and older, pregnant women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, children from six months to five years old, and those with medical conditions.
Doctors blindsided by announcement
Australian Medical Association Queensland Council of General Practitioners chair Maria Boulton and Royal Australian College of General Practitioners Queensland faculty chair Bruce Willet said while they welcomed the initiative, general practice clinics had not been provided information before the announcement in the media.
Dr Boulton and Dr Willett said medical practice receptionists had been smashed with calls from patients seeking the free vaccine while they tried to figure out which vaccines could be given freely, supply and whether they would be reimbursed for purchased stock.
Dr Boulton said general practices had private stock of vaccines as well as vaccines that given to them under the National Immunisation Program.
She said they weren't sure which ones to use.
"I think what GP practices were waiting for is confirmation in writing and details," Dr Boulton said.
"We wish this all would have been sorted out before the media announcement was made, to save all the confusion."
Receptionists cop confrontation from public
Ms D'Ath defended the rollout in parliament, saying the state government had communicated with peak bodies representing GPs and pharmacists including the AMAQ and RACGP, and would continue to do so.
She said the government sought advice from department public health officials about the consequences of people delaying their vaccine, if they had instead announced the initiative in advance.
"The consequences of that would have been people delaying their vaccine until they could access it for free," she said.
"What is important is that people have been flooding to GPs and pharmacies across the state."
Dr Willett said receptionists bore the brunt of frustration over the issue.
"They get smashed and abused for not knowing what's going on when no-one has told us," he said.
Dr Willett said there had been frantic communication with Queensland Health on Tuesday seeking confirmation how the reimbursement would be distributed to GPs.
Found out on social media
Warwick Road Medical practice manager Angie Walker said she learnt of the free flu vaccine initiative on social media.
She said while it sounded like a wonderful scheme, she wanted to know who would pay for the doses already in practices.
"All we have is a handshake-like agreement to say the government will compensate general practice and pharmacies for the cost but we don't know how that's going to work, there's no policy, there's no procedure, there's no process in place," she said.
There have already been more than 7,825 flu cases in Queensland this year, with more than 150 people hospitalised and 10 in ICU.
