Frailty admission avoidance (POAC)

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

• Patients 65 years and over.
• Patients domiciled in Te Whatu Ora Waikato area.
• Patients experiencing an acute event causing a borderline level of function with a reduction in personal activities of daily living or extended activities of daily living meaning it is not safe to send them home. 
• Patients able to stand, transfer and toilet independently or with assistance.
• Patients who consent and agree to be seen by an inter-disciplinary team.
• A referral to the acute frailty admission avoidance service is required to be eligible for this funding. 

• Patients who are acutely unwell requiring hospital admission.
• Patients who have a progressive or deteriorating condition where partial or full recovery cannot be reasonably expected within 6 weeks (e.g. palliative care).
• Patients who have a home environment not safe for patient/staff or appropriate for rehabilitation.
• Patients requiring a review of supports. 

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.

A referral to the acute frailty admission avoidance service is required to be eligible for this funding. 

Please make your claim via Primary Options, select Frailty Admission Avoidance Service and then attach the appropriate invoice(s).

Prices listed below are GST inclusive.

GP/NP/CP extended consultation: $79 or 

Rural GP/NP/CP extended consultation: $89 or

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

Afterhours GP/NP/CP Extended consultation: $99 

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

Extended consult for initial assessment at surgery or patient’s residence if patient is then referred via pathway (one only).  

Frailty admission follow up: $126  
Follow-up visit to patient’s home or residential care facility following completion of supports (one only).  

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

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. 

To be eligible for this funding you are required to refer your patient to the Acute Frailty Admission Avoidance Service, aimed at supporting GPs and their vulnerable elderly patients by providing alternatives to emergency department referral and linking patients into the most appropriate short-term community service.

• Acute Home-Based Support - in home.  
• Respite - in a rest home facility.  
• START - in own home but provides a rehab service.  

Referrals can be made by phoning the triage coordinator.  

Triage coordinator: Phone 027 552 0187 or 07 839 8669.  
Hours of service: 8am - 4pm, Monday to Friday. 

The service is funded by Te Whatu Ora.