POAC Funding: Dehydration
POAC Eligibility Criteria
To qualify for POAC funding:
Community Management: The patient must be safely manageable within the community.
Severity: For moderately severe dehydration.
Admission Avoidance: The patient would otherwise be referred to hospital
Patient safety is paramount and non-negotiable. Any management plan must prioritise the well-being and safety of the patient.
Dehydration in Adults
Criteria:
For moderately severe dehydration only with symptoms including:
Weakness
Light-headedness
Postural hypotension
Tachycardia
Sunken eyes
Dry mucous membranes
Oliguria
Ketones ++
Refer to the Auckland HealthPathway for Dehydration in Adults.
POAC will fund a maximum of 2 litres of IV fluids per day
Severe cases should be admitted to hospital
POAC Funding:
1 Litre fluids - $180
2 Litres fluids - $240
GP/NP review post fluids may be claimed where hospital admission is required and consultation is clearly documented - Claimed at normal practice rate
Next day brief follow up review is claimable, where clinically indicated - $20
Gastroenteritis in Children
Criteria:
POAC provides funding of Acute Asthma management in Children under following circumstances:
Mild-moderately severe, as defined by Gastroenteritis in Children Auckland HealthPathway
Oral rehydration therapy may be claimed if extended observation and treatment > 30 minutes, is required to manage dehydration
POAC Funding:
Observation time at $1.20 per minute (where >30 minutes)
GP/NP review post fluids may be claimed where hospital admission is required and consultation is clearly documented - Claimed at normal practice rate
Next day brief follow up review is claimable, where clinically indicated - $20
POAC Claiming Information
Submitting Claim:
Submit a new POAC referral using diagnosis code 'Dehydration' (this should be submitted at the time of treatment)
Submit invoice for services provided, ensuring full clinical documentation is included.
Refer POAC Claiming Guide for further information
Exceptional Circumstances:
In rare cases where a patient falls outside the standard eligibility criteria:
Approval must be obtained from the Clinical Director, or
Comprehensive clinical information must be provided to the Clinical Governance Committee to confirm that:
A hospital referral was indicated.
Patient safety was not compromised.