the services they provide, their services
will not generally give rise to eligibility for
MBS rebates (of course there are exceptions,
which I will come to) to do otherwise would
be to allow those clinicians to double dip.
this provision would be a breach of the
National Healthcare Reform Agreement.
It's quite nicely stitched up when you
look closely, and it effectively excludes
all telehealth claiming in the emergency
department environment. That's right
currently if the patient is in the emergency
department they cannot be the subject of a
telehealth claim, end of story.
specialist has received a valid referral and
is ready on the end of the video. A patient's
location determines what happens next
and, as we have seen, in a public emergency
department the patient cannot have MBS
charges raised against them. The exceptions
are described in business rules G21 and G22,
which create specific exemptions for GPs
who provide emergency medical services
in the emergency departments of small
rural hospitals or other approved facilities.
However, this does not impact or alter
anything else telehealth related.
a telehealth item and, as a consequence,
neither can the GP. The GP may be able
to claim a consultation (though not a
telehealth consultation) if a specific remote
exemption applies.
picture, a Medicare-claiming avalanche could
certainly result from opening up telehealth
departments. Yet numerous examples do
spring to mind whereby a specific exemption
would save lives and millions in healthcare
costs, such as this example:
a developing stroke. CT scanning is
required and the clot busting drug TPA, if
administered within four hours of symptom
onset, may be lifesaving. The local GP has
access to a CT scanner at the hospital but
needs specialist support and advice to make
the decision to use TPA safely."
substantial incentives are still available both
for getting on board (currently $3900) and
for each claim.
·$128.30theusual85%rebatefor
remote Australia. It will boost specialist care
for those living in aged-care facilities, as well
as providing much needed specialist support
for our indigenous population.
really boils down to one question where
is the patient?
BIllING