HNZ: Changes to funding for Supervised RATs in primary care

Kia ora koutou katoa, 

As you are aware, Te Whatu Ora is in the process of updating the COVID-19 Testing Plan along with all other testing related documents.  This has meant a review of the “COVID-19 Testing Operational Guidance for General Practice” and current funding model for claiming supervised RATs and NAATs (PCR) in primary care ($120.00 for a test (RAT or NAAT(PCR) with a clinical assessment for priority and vulnerable people). 

Moving forward, the use of supervised RATs will be to inform immediate clinical care only, with a NAAT(PCR) being the modality of choice for testing priority and vulnerable people in conjunction with a clinical assessment.

Therefore, as of 1 December 2022 the current funding model for claiming will change to be $120.00 for conducting a NAAT (PCR) in conjunction with a clinical assessment. The funding for supervised RAT will be discontinued.

Other testing funding avenues remain unchanged for primary care.

The current version of “COVID-19 Testing Operational Guidance for General Practice” will be updated to incorporate this funding model change, along with any changes to the Testing Plan (and guidance) and will be distributed once all amendments have been made. 

If you have any queries regarding this, please send to the:  COVID-19testing@health.govt.nz – with the title “Funding in General Practice”.

Ngā mihi

Vanessa Coull (she/her)

Principal Advisor | Tino Kaitohutohu

COVID-19 Testing Operations

waea pūkoro: +64 21 229 7050 | īmēra: vanessa.coull@health.govt.nz

133 Molesworth Street, Wellington