Department of Health Withdraws Discussion Paper

The VPA met with representatives from the VHIA, the DoH and other unions to discuss the formation of a Working Party to explore PP rights for health professionals. The DoH is to prepare and circulate Terms of Reference for the Working Party. It withdrew the Discussion Paper on PP. We welcome the withdrawal of the Paper, given it seemed to endorse arrangements for private psychology clinics which are likely to breach the rules of Medicare, in requiring psychologists employed by public health services to bill clients privately and remit the monies to the health service. We will be addressing this issue separately with the Minister, the VHIA and the Dept of Health.