Cryptosporidium outbreak

Good Afternoon Practice Managers,

There is an ongoing Cryptosporidium outbreak in Queenstown. It is not yet known what the source of the outbreak is, and a boil water notice is currently in place in Queenstown as a precaution. One person from outside Central/Lake’s area has also had cryptosporidium confirmed after visiting there, so please be on the lookout for recent Queenstown visits in people presenting with gastroenteritis related symptoms, especially if symptoms started on or after August 18th .

Current flooding in the Queenstown area is also likely to impact water quality and may also result in people presenting with gastro related symptoms. While the source and extent of the outbreak is unclear, Te Whatu Ora has agreed to fund general practices to undertake the collection of faecal samples for testing and provide electronic notification of suspected notifiable disease to Public Health for surveillance purposes on all suspected cases.

This applies to all cases where a faecal specimen is taken for people residing in or visiting Queenstown/Frankton, where symptoms started on or after August 18th. This is separate to the provision of clinical care. This is anticipated to be a time-limited service until the extent of the outbreak is understood, and we will notify you when it is no longer required.

Patient will pay usual cost for the clinical care consultation, however the faecal specimen collection and electronic notification for surveillance reasons will be separately funded through Te Whatu Ora at $40 per faecal specimen and electronic public health notification referral.

 If they have clinically compatible symptoms but are self-managing, please ask them to come for a nurse consultation and faecal specimen. Funded $40 per nurse consultation – includes giving specimen pottle, doing an electronic notification.

 Who to test: Test if currently symptomatic (main priority) or within 2 weeks of having had symptoms (as these people may still be shedding and spreading)

o Please add “ PART OF CRYPTOSPORIDIOSIS OUTBREAK OB-23-111305-

IN.” to clinical details in lab request

For further information on management please refer to HealthPathways.

How to Claim.

All claims are to be process via Halcyon under ‘Quick Claims’

This form can be found in the “Other Options” tab when launching Halcyon.

When you access the form to submit claims, please note that invoices will not be generated without setting up the following code below in your PMS.

Please find attached the documents relevant to your PMS and the updated guidelines.

 Medtech Set up Guide and internal Account ID

 Medtech Evolution set up guide.

 MyPractice Service Codes

For My Practice and Profile users, once your codes are set up - you are ready to claim as soon as the form goes live. For Medtech 32 And Evolution: once the codes have been added to your PMS, please find the internal codes within your PMS (guide to find codes is attached) and complete the table below to return directly to practiceclaims@wboppho.org.nz as soon as possible so that setup for access can be completed.

If you have any queries, please contact nsadmin@wboppho.org.nz

Ngā mihi, Network Liaison Team

nsadmin@wboppho.org.nz

Phone: (07) 577 3234