Simon James wrote:
Here's some answers I obtained from Medicare Australia (or more correctly,
Human Services) via email to questions posed previously on this list.
2. What happens if the patient pays the gap or a lesser portion of the bill?
A. This is referred to as a 'pay doctor via claimant' (PDVC) arrangement and
is accepted by some doctors. In this situation, the claimant can still make
their claim using 'Medicare Easyclaim'. They swipe their medicare card in
the terminal and the practice manager would enter the claim details and
indicate that the claim is unpaid or partially paid. Following claim
approval, Medicare will then send a cheque to the patient, in the name of
the doctor, which the patient would then need to provide to the practice to
settle their account. The difference between this process compared to what
occurs today is that the doctor has assurance that the claim has at least
been lodged and the cheque is on its way.
As I have explained, this statement is wrong. It is wrong because via
the current Medicare Online Claiming used in real time mode, practices
already know immediately whether the claim has been accepted and that
the "cheque is on its way". They are really working hard to pull the
wool over the profession's and the public's eyes.
--
Oliver Frank, general practitioner
255 North East Road, Hampstead Gardens, South Australia 5086
Phone 08 8261 1355 Fax 08 8266 5149 Mobile 0407 181 683
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