MSAV + VPA +AHP News
| Psychologists and Dietitians |
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Private – Public Work – Medicare Benefits
We are concerned that some public sector hospitals and community health centres appear to be wanting to cost-shift to the Commonwealth government by seeking to have members ‘sign over’ their Medicare billing to the health service. It is our view that any treatment services which are provided by a publicly-funded organisation cannot be paid for via Medicare, as this would, in our view, be a breach of the Health Insurance Act 1973. We advise members NOT to enter into any such arrangements with any public sector employer. If members are offered the use of rooms for private practice outside their contracted hours, we recommend members enter into such arrangements very carefully, considering what ‘facilities fee’ they may be charged. The ethical questions which would arise if patients are being diverted from the public sector to a private practitioner, and around confidentiality of patient information need to be considered also.
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