General

If we obtain verbal consent from the patient to bulk bill and note it in the patient’s file, is that compliant for bulk billing?

19 January 25

Is a verbal consent noted in the patient’s file enough? If a bulk billed patient has to provide consent by signature for items put through to Medicare this creates additional admin work, in particul…

If a practice nurse does dressings and vaccinations and the GP does not physically see the patient, can the practice nurse bill under the GPs name?

6 January 25

We have a Practice Nurse who does vaccinations and wound dressings etc. Does the doctor have to physically see the patient or can the nurse discuss the patient with the doctor, act on his/her …

If patients book a video consult and pay prior to my consultation can they get a Medicare rebate or do they have to pay on the same day as the consult?

24 November 24

If my patients book a video telehealth with me online and pay prior to my consultation (given that they have a GP referral in advance) can they get a medicare rebate? Or does the payment need …

Who is responsible for Medicare billings in private practice and is it different as between contractors and employees?

11 November 24

This question came from a psychologist but it applies to everyone who can bill to Medicare. No exceptions.

…

Can an inpatient of a private psychiatric hospital attend bulk billed outpatient appointments whether by telehealth or face-to-face?

28 October 24

This question came from a consumer.
I am an inpatient in a private mental health unit in a private hospital. I am under an inpatient psychiatrist. While I am an inpatient, I have a telehealth…

Why are my claims with indefinite referrals from the GP being rejected by Medicare?

24 October 24

In the last 12 months or so, I’ve had repeated problems with referrals marked “indefinite” by the GP. These will be accepted by Medicare for some time, then randomly start getting rejected. Re…

Can we charge sleep study equipment hire fees to patients when we bulk bill their sleep studies?

5 October 24

This questioner said that every time they called Medicare about this, they received different advice and were concerned they may be billing incorrectly. The setting was outpatient sleep studies whic…

Can a psychologist bill to Medicare for a walk and talk session?

4 October 24

I was hoping to please clarify which billing code is appropriate for a generally registered psychologist session using a valid mental health treatment plan lasting more than 50 minutes that is…

Can allied health professionals using a Team Care Arrangement charge a separate gap when bulk billing?

4 October 24

This physiotherapist was under a misunderstanding that there existed a separate bulk billing law just for allied health professionals.

…

Can a specialist bill a 91836 as their first billing in a private practice setting?

4 October 24

The specialist had received a referral from another respiratory physician to perform a bronchoscopy on a patient. The specialist called the patient to discuss the procedure, make them aware of…

Why are outpatient item numbers that attract 85% of the Medicare Schedule Fee not listed by the private health insurers?

3 October 24

The question was posed in the context of public hospital outpatient services where clinicians can bulk bill when exercising a Right of Private Practice providing all other criteria are met. Th…

When bulk billing, is the patient’s agreement to assign their Medicare benefit required for all items or just the consultation items?

2 October 24

The questioner added that everything they had read talks about telehealth items only. Their understanding was that the assignment of benefit is only required for consultation items but not for…

Can we charge facility fees to cover the cost of consumables when bulk billing?

30 September 24

A GP practice wanted to know how to “manage” facility fees for bulk billing patients. The question said that the practice needed to charge this fee to cover the cost of consumables, but the doctors …

If a patient presents at a public hospital outpatient clinic with a named referral from their GP and needs admission but wants to go to a private hospital, is a new referral required?

27 September 24

If I see patients referred to me in the public clinic, and they are unwell and require admission to hospital at presentation to the clinic as patients with chronic disease sometimes are, do I …

Is there a legal restriction to claiming a new initial day of ICU when the patient was discharged from ICU and readmitted within 3 days?

25 September 24

If a patient is discharged from ICU and readmitted within 3 days and we claim a new initial day of ICU management (13870), the claims reject. We find that if we resubmit the claim as item …

Can a fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (FACEM) bill MBS codes outside of a private emergency department?

24 September 24

This FACEM was planning to open a walk-in emergency clinic similar to a GP urgent care centre. Importantly, this would not be an approved private emergency department (ED).
The following …

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Topics

Specialities

General

If we obtain verbal consent from the patient to bulk bill and note it in the patient’s file, is that compliant for bulk billing?

If a practice nurse does dressings and vaccinations and the GP does not physically see the patient, can the practice nurse bill under the GPs name?

If patients book a video consult and pay prior to my consultation can they get a Medicare rebate or do they have to pay on the same day as the consult?

Who is responsible for Medicare billings in private practice and is it different as between contractors and employees?

Can an inpatient of a private psychiatric hospital attend bulk billed outpatient appointments whether by telehealth or face-to-face?

Why are my claims with indefinite referrals from the GP being rejected by Medicare?

Can we charge sleep study equipment hire fees to patients when we bulk bill their sleep studies?

Can a psychologist bill to Medicare for a walk and talk session?

Can allied health professionals using a Team Care Arrangement charge a separate gap when bulk billing?

Can a specialist bill a 91836 as their first billing in a private practice setting?

Why are outpatient item numbers that attract 85% of the Medicare Schedule Fee not listed by the private health insurers?

When bulk billing, is the patient’s agreement to assign their Medicare benefit required for all items or just the consultation items?

Can we charge facility fees to cover the cost of consumables when bulk billing?

If a patient presents at a public hospital outpatient clinic with a named referral from their GP and needs admission but wants to go to a private hospital, is a new referral required?

Is there a legal restriction to claiming a new initial day of ICU when the patient was discharged from ICU and readmitted within 3 days?

Can a fellow of the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (FACEM) bill MBS codes outside of a private emergency department?

Topics

Specialities

General

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