Media Release
Australian Government makes Medicare claiming easier
20 September 2007
Minister for Human Services, Senator Chris Ellison, today announced that electronic Medicare claiming is rolling out to medical practices, with nearly 400 practices now offering the 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.”
Each day 80,000 people queue at a Medicare office to claim their rebate. Access Economics estimates that the average cost in time and resources for each of these people is $10, costing the Australian community more than $200 million per year.
“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,” said Senator Ellison.
“Those who prefer can still visit one of 238 Medicare offices. The Government remains committed to the Medicare office network, which will ultimately offer a wider range of services.”
At a meeting today, the Australian Medical Association, Australian General Practice Network, Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Rural Doctors Association of Australia, and Australian Association of Practice Managers committed to implementing electronic claiming for better patient convenience.
“The Government is pleased that the peak medical bodies share its commitment to making life easier for patients.”
Senator Ellison also announced a transitional support package to assist practices in offering electronic Medicare claiming to their patients.
“We acknowledge the shift to electronic claiming represents a significant change for some medical practices, and the Government will provide a one-off payment of between $750 and $1000 to assist with that transition,” he said.
Practices will also receive 18 cents for each bulk bill and patient claim transaction processed electronically until December 2009.
“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 said.
Support for pathologists and software vendors is now being finalised. An information campaign for patients is expected to begin in early 2008.
Media Contact: Michael Barrett (Senator Ellison) – (02) 6277 7200 or 0419 424 359.
About Electronic Medicare claiming
- Electronic Medicare claiming cuts paperwork for the practice, speeds up payment times, and makes it easier to help patients lodge claims on-the-spot.
- Medical practices have the choice of two electronic claiming channels – Medicare Online and Medicare Easyclaim – to process bulk bill and patient claims.
- Electronic Medicare claiming is part of the Australian Government’s strategy to improve access to Medicare services and broader e-health agenda.
- Medicare Online
- is internet-based
- lets practices lodge both bulk bill and patient claims
- enables DVA and ACIR reporting
- lets patients receive their rebate into the bank account in two-three days, or opt to receive a cheque
- currently used by around 6700 practices
- is used to lodge around 60% of bulk bill claims from GPs
- was introduced in 2002
- Medicare Easyclaim
- is EFTPOS-based
- lets practices lodge both bulk bill and patient claims
- lets patients receive their rebate into their cheque or savings account almost immediately
- reduces paperwork and speeds up payments for practices
- currently being piloted and will be rolled out more widely from later in 2007
- developed in conjunction with participating financial institutions
General
- Around 80,000 cash claims made every day in Medicare offices. Claiming on-the-spot at doctors’ surgeries will provide greater convenience for patients
- There are around 16,000 practices in Australia
- Around 2,000 practices currently help their patients claim using Medicare Online.