Karen's Key Tips and Practice Tricks

If you have any feedback, ideas for tips or need assistance contact Karen at Karen.Bolch@wellsouth.org.nz.

18 June 2025 - General Medical Services (GMS) explained

What is GMS?

GMS are subsidies paid to general practices under the Section 88 notice to help reduce patient fees for children and subsidy card holders for standard consults.

When can a GP or NP claim for GMS

A GP or NP can claim a subsidy if the casual patient is:

• A child or young person aged 17 years or under, or
• A Community Services Card holder, or
• A High Use Health Card holder

Claiming GMS and Immunisation on the same day by the same provider

As long as a full consultation unrelated to the immunisation was undertaken with the patient, then both services 
can be claimed. You may not claim GMS if you have only assessed and immunised the patient and did not provide 
any other unrelated services.

Claiming GMS and ACC for the same patient from a single consult

If a patient is seen by a doctor and the patient has 2 completely separate complaints, 1 accident related, 1 
medical problem, then the doctor can make 2 claims. The 2 problems must be quite separate and each must be 
worthy of a full consultation, with distinctly separate supporting clinical notes.

Making multiple GMS claims

As long as full and separate consultations were given then multiple claims can be made. Multiple claims cannot be 
made for 1 lengthy consultation or a consultation that covered a number of different issues. The patient must be 
treated at different times during the day.

GMS Fees as of 5 June 2025

Casual Patient Fee per Consult (excl GST)

A child under 6 years of age $31.11
A child or young person aged 6-17 yrs who is dependent of a CSC holder $17.78
A child or young person aged 6-17 yrs who is dependent of a HUHC holder $17.78
A child or young person aged 6-17 yrs who is not the dependent of a CSC & HUHC holder $13.33
A person aged 18 yrs or over who holds a CSC $13.33
A person aged 18 yrs or over who holds a HUHC $13.33

GMS Error Messages

Call the Sector Operations Contact Centre on 0800 855 066.


NB: Contracted Providers must ensure that if General Medical Services are provided for which a Claim is or will 
be made, the Health Practitioner encourages the patient to return to the contracted provider with whom the 
patient is enrolled.

Resource Link

General Medical Services claim

 

Click here to read more/print pdf.

4 June 2025 - Retention of patient records and confidentiality

Patient health information is highly confidential and must always be handled with care, even after a patient has left the medical centre or is deceased.

Printable pdf here with links to further information.