Call for Expressions of Interest - Member for the Credentialing Committee

The ACMHN is seeking expressions of interest for a Credentialed Mental Health Nurse to join the Credentialing Committee for the period 2012 and 2013.

The Credential for Practice Program has experienced significant growth over the last few years and is expecting to continue its role further into the future. The Program is also in a stage of review and this will be a major focus of the Committee in 2012.

The ACMHN Board has reappointed Greg Neilson CMHN as the Chair of the Committee for a second term. Also serving a second term on the Committee are Tessa Moriarty CMHN, Elizabeth Martin CMHN, and external member Christine Ashley.

The first meeting of the Committee in 2012 will be held in Canberra on 14 and 15 March. Therefore the ACMHN Board is seeking to appoint a new member to the Committee by the end of January 2012.

To submit your Expression of Interest, please submit:

• a short statement (no more than 500 words) about your experience relevant to the purpose of the Committee; and
• a CV

by Sunday 22 January 2012.

Please send enquiries, requests for the Terms of Reference for the Committee, and your Expression of Interest by email to: Kylie Pryde at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The Credentialing Committee

Purpose
The primary function (by delegated power of the ACMHN Board of Directors) of the Credentialing Committee is to oversee and provide effective governance of the ACMHN Credential for Practice Program (CPP).

The Membership of the Committee
Four financial members of the ACMHN who are Credentialed Mental Health Nurses (including the Chair)
Up to two individual external members
The ACMHN President and Chief Executive Officer Ex Officio

Meetings
The Committee meets four times per year, primarily by teleconference.

beyondblue

Credentialed Mental Health Nurses with a Medicare number are invited to register your practice details with the beyondblue website. Apply here.

Updates

INFORMATION SHEET February 2009 Credentialled Mental health Nurses, Medicare and other Commonwealth Funded Programs
More information

Links

Medicare

Credentialed MHNs can contact Medicare to obtain a provider number and detailed information about accessing government programs.

Link here

Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program

The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program provides a non-MBS incentive payment to community based general practices, private psychiatrist services and other appropriate organisations (such as Divisions of General Practice) who engage mental health nurses to assist in the provision of coordinated clinical care for people with severe mental disorders.

Link here

Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care - Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS)

ATAPS enables GPs under the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care (BOiMHC) program to refer consumers to allied health professionals who deliver focussed psychological strategies.

Divisions of General Practice act as fund holders for ATAPS projects and are allocated an annual budget, through Funding Agreements with the Australian Government, to broker allied mental health services for patients referred by GPs who are assessed as having a mental disorder. Therefore, the allied health professional is paid through the Division, and it is up to the Division to determine the level of payment

Link here

Enhanced Primary Care (EPC)

Medicare rebates are available for a range of allied health services provided for people with a chronic medical condition and complex care needs who are being managed by their GP under an enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan. This includes follow-up services for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island descent who have had a health assessment conducted by their GP in which the GP has identified a need for follow-up allied health services. Credentialed Mental Health Nurses need to be registered with Medicare Australia to provide services under this initiative.

Link here

Aged Care Access Initiative Program (ACAI)

The ACAI aims to improve access to primary care services for residents of Commonwealth-funded aged care facilities. A payment is available for clinical care provided by allied health professionals where services in aged care facilities are not paid for through Medicare or other government funding arrangements. This is managed by the Divisions of General

Practice State Based Organisations (SBOs) in each state and territory, which may purchase allied health services directly or through contractual arrangements with Divisions of General Practice. Under the Initiative, allied health professionals may provide clinical services to residents of aged care facilities either on an individual or a group basis. For the purpose of this Initiative, an allied health service may include services provided by registered nurses with a specialist role. Further information: contact your local SBO via the Australian General Practice network on (02) 6228 0800.

Link here

Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme

The Mental Health Postgraduate Scholarship Scheme (MHPSS) provides scholarships to support people to undertake postgraduate study in mental health nursing and clinical psychology disciplines. The Mental Health Nursing scheme is administered by the Royal College of Nursing, Australia on behalf of the Department of Health and Ageing.

Link here

Non-Directive Pregnancy Counselling

There government has increased the availability of counselling and support for women and their partners who are concerned about a pregnancy through the provision of Non-Directive Pregnancy Support Counselling MBS Items. These items provide Medicare benefits for the provision of non-directive pregnancy support counselling by eligible GPs, and psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses on referral from a GP.

Link here

Do the ACMHN NDPC online training program for CPD points