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Medicare claiming is now easier

THE Australian Government is pleased that peak medical bodies share its commitment to making life easier for patients through electronic Medicare claiming.
Minister for Human Services, Chris Ellison, has announced that electronic Medicare claiming is rolling out to medical practices, with nearly 400 practices already offering the Medicare Easyclaim service and more than 12,000 patients being saved a trip to a Medicare office since June 2007.
"Electronic claiming lets patients lodge their Medicare claim on-the-spot at the surgery. Practices can also use it for bulk billing," Senator Ellison said.
"We listened when more than 80 per cent of patients who normally pay to see their doctor told us they want to claim their rebate electronically.
"Over the coming year, the Government expects more and more practices to offer electronic claiming to their patients. Practices can choose to use either the internet-based Medicare Online or EFTPOS-based Medicare Easyclaim," Senator Ellison added.
"Electronic Medicare claiming ultimately cuts paperwork and speeds up payments for practices. Through the support package, we are recognising the initial effort for practice staff to make this switch."
The profession was represented at yesterday's roundtable with Senator Ellison by the Australian Medical Association, Australian General Practice Network, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Rural Doctors Association of Australia, and the Australian Association of Practice Managers.
"Government and peak bodies agree on the importance of patient convenience. We have set a clear target, of 70 per cent of all patient claims to be made on-the-spot, at the point of service, by September 2008," Senator Ellison said.
"Progress towards this target will be monitored and reported.
"We remain committed to increasing bulk billing rates, and support practices making these claims electronically," Senator Ellison added.
The Minister also announced a transitional support package to assist practices in offering electronic Medicare claiming to their patients.
"The transitional support package is designed to achieve three things - help practices make more use of technology, give them a greater choice of channels, and improve patient convenience," Senator Ellison said.

Key details

applies to general practitioners and specialists only
a lump sum payment of $750 for metropolitan practices and $1000 for rural practices to assist with set-up costs for Medicare Easyclaim and Medicare Online
18 cents for each bulk bill and patient claim transaction made electronically between September 2007 and December 2009 through either channel
payments made quarterly, starting in March 2008 (but backdated to September 2007)
access to a 90 day pay doctor cheque scheme for specialists for claims lodged electronically
a per-practice payment to software vendors to assist them in bringing providers online
a tailored arrangement to help pathologists shift from Medclaims to an online system.

The support for pathologists and software vendors is now being finalised.
Senator Ellison said the Government supports medical practices making more use of technology as a step towards the broader e-health agenda.
"As well as helping streamline the administration of health care payments at the practice level, this will deliver a fantastic level of convenience for millions of Australians," the Minister said.
"We are pleased to have the medical profession's support as we work closely with practices, software developers and banks to deliver new levels of convenience to patients," Senator Ellison added.
Patients will still be able to claim Medicare rebates via post or the network of 238 Medicare offices, all of which will remain.
A range of support materials for electronic claiming will be available to practices, together with advice from Medicare Australia's e-business team. An information campaign for patients is expected to begin in early 2008.