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Optimising your billing strategy

Activity 1 – What to consider when choosing your billing model

Table of contents

Activity 1 – What to consider when choosing your billing model

(1.5hrs EA, 0.5hrs RP)

Welcome to the educational activity on what to consider when choosing your billing model.

This activity provides a high-level overview on key factors that GPs and practice owners should take into consideration when deciding to transition to a mixed billing model.

This activity is part of the Optimising your billing strategy CPD solution and can be completed as a standalone activity.

Claiming CPD hours

Recommended hours for completion of this activity are prescribed for watching the video and completing the reflective questions. Highlights from the video are listed below. You can adjust the hours accordingly when submitting your quicklLog hours.

You can claim hours per task or as a whole.

Ensure you keep adequate records of your activity as you may be audited by the RACGP or Medical Board of Australia (MBA). The MBA requires evidence of your annual CPD activities to be retained for three years. See evidence guide here.

As this is a self-directed activity, your workbook and audit activities will not be assessed or used against you in any way.

Log your activity

Task 1 – On-demand webinar

In the ‘What to consider when choosing your billing model’ webinar, you will hear from four GPs and practice owners who share their individual experiences implementing a mixed billing model in their practices.

Highlights from the video.

10:29 to 16:40	The RACGP’s view on billing Billing is a personal choice and there are many factors that influence how a GP bills Patient education is a necessary part of the relationship between a GP and their patient Don’t be afraid of change
16:42 to 19:53	Overview of Medicare billing rules
20:05 to 31.24	Dr Lisa Fraser, Gordonvale Family Medical Centre Strategy around ownership change and change in billing policy Transitioning patients away from being bulk billed in the case of ownership change Social equity considerations in deciding which patients to bulk bill patients Complex consultations Communications on changes on billing and fees Importance of talking about money
31:54 to 39:00	Dr Emma Keeler, Esperance Family Practice New private practice in Esperance, approximately 7 hours from Perth Benefits of new private practice and ability to implement mixed billing from the beginning Regular review of percentage of patients that are bulk billed versus patients that are privately billed Strategy for determining appropriate fees, annual fee review and communication with patients on updated fees Strategy for managing patients who are averse to paying an out-of-pocket fee
39:41 to 49:49	Dr Bernard Shiu, Banksia Medical Centre Change of practice ownership, transition from bulk billing practice to mixed billing Communication and education with existing patients to explain why there is a private fee Annual fee increase Percentage of bulk billing patients Strategy for determining fees for children under 16 as a practice Strategy on transitioning from bulk billing telehealth appointments post Covid Approach on setting consistent fees between practitioners Peer-to-peer learning on Medicare billing
50:26 to 1:00:54	Dr Mukesh Haikerwal, Altona North Medical Group Challenges of transition to a mixed billing model as practice is in a lower socioeconomic area and second most ethnically diverse area in Melbourne, Victoria Change in business/consulting hours to ensure viability Additional fee for new patients and children under 16 Charging additional fee for new patients as a strategy to cope with Medicare indexation freeze
1:06:25 to 1:27:45	Q&A session Working with reception staff to implement your mixed billing model Strategies for managing the billing for under-16 patient cohort Practicalities on fee increases and frequency Mechanics on pre-payments of telehealth consultations First three steps to take in transitioning to a mixed billing model Bulk billing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients Billing DVA clients, patients with seniors’ card Charging patients an annual membership fee Clarification on bulk billing some items and privately billing other items (split billing)

Watch the webinar

Task 2 – Reflection questions

You can choose to note your responses down in your own document or download the template below.

Question: What are your 3 key take-home messages from the webinar?

Question: Thinking about your own practice, what might be some of the benefits to introducing a mixed billing model?

Question: Thinking about your own practice, what are some of factors that you will now take into consideration when it comes to your billing model to improve business viability?

download task 2 Log your activity

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