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Hospital Emergency Department Voucher System

To support timely and appropriate care for lower-acuity patients presenting to Emergency Departments, a voucher system is in place to enable redirection to approved Urgent Care Clinics.  This includes POAC-funded access to same-day radiology services, where clinically indicated.

Middlemore, Kidz First, North Shore & Waitakere Hospitals

Emergency Q App is used by North Shore Hospital and Waitakere Hospital to redirect suitable patients to the following approved Urgent Care Clinics:

West:

  • White Cross Henderson

White Cross New Lynn

North:

  • Shorecare Smales Farm

Shorecare Greville Road

South:

  • Counties Medical - Takanini

  • Counties Medical - Papakura

  • The Doctors Middlemore

  • White Cross Otahuhu

  • East Care Urgent Care

Radiology Services

  • POAC may provide funding for urgent, same-day radiology services, including ACC surcharges for acute X-rays.

  • To request funded radiology:

    1. Generate the radiology request form as usual.

    2. Clearly state “POAC funded” on the referral.

    3. Include the Emergency Q voucher number.

  • Radiology providers will invoice POAC directly.

  • No POAC referral is required.  No admin fee is claimable.

  • Routine, non-urgent radiology is not included.

Auckland City Hospital

As of May 2025, a paper voucher system (separate from the Emergency Q app) is in use to redirect eligible patients from Auckland City Hospital Emergency Department to:

  • White Cross Ascot

Patients attend White Cross Ascot with a paper voucher that includes brief clinical information. No voucher number is provided.  Vouchers are valid for 24 hours only.

Radiology Services

  • If acute radiology is required:

    1. Create a POAC case using the standard process.

    2. Use code: WX Ascot ED Voucher.

    3. Refer the patient to Astra Radiology.

  • Astra Radiology will invoice POAC directly, including for any ACC co-payments

POAC Process

Extended Acute Care

If the patient requires ongoing acute services normally funded by POAC (e.g. IV fluids, IV antibiotics), it may be reasonable to create a POAC referral for the extended and ongoing care.

  • The initial management of the patient is funded by Health NZ and should not be claimed under POAC.

Radiology

  • POAC funding applies only to urgent, same-day imaging or appropriate ongoing care post-ED redirection.

  • Routine or non-urgent radiology requests should continue to be made via Access to Diagnostics or eReferral, and are not funded under POAC.

Reminders

✔️ Use the Correct Coding:
Always quote the “POAC – EQ voucher number” or “POAC – EQ + NHI” for radiology requests to ensure correct invoicing and that the patient is not charged.

✔️ Clinical Scope:

Only urgent same-day services are included under this process.  Other non acute investigations or treatments beyond the initial consult or radiology services are not POAC funded.

✔️ No Patient Charge: 

Patients should not be charged for any service funded under this process.

✔️ POAC Funding:

Submit a POAC claim as normal if, after the initial consultation (funded by voucher), the patient meets normal POAC clinical criteria for extended acute care.

Questions

Email claiming queries to: claims@poac.co.nz 

Contact Deanna Williams, Service Manager: deannaw@easthealth.co.nz

 

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