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Annual Report 06–07
Output 1: Core Department—Performance—Implement Medicare Easyclaim in medical practices
Medicare Easyclaim will allow patients to claim Medicare rebates through EFTPOS terminals at participating doctors’ surgeries. Both doctors and patients will benefit from the facility. Doctors will receive faster bulk-bill rebates and have less paperwork, and patients will have their rebates paid almost instantly, directly into their bank accounts, without having to visit a Medicare office.
The Core Department made a strong contribution to the work of the Electronic Medicare Claiming Interdepartmental Committee and the development of the Cabinet submission for Medicare Easyclaim. Since the introduction of Medicare Easyclaim was announced by the Prime Minister in August 2006, the Core Department, working with Medicare Australia, has made strong progress towards the goal of rolling out the facility in the second half of 2007.
In particular, the Core Department worked with Medicare Australia to develop the commercial arrangements for the project. Two major banks and one internet-based EFTPOS provider have already been contracted to deliver the service. Discussions with other financial institutions are well advanced, with more financial institutions expected to sign contracts by the end of 2007. The first Medicare Easyclaim transactions were successfully transmitted in late June 2007.
The communication strategy for the project was developed with leadership from the Core Department. Direct communication with medical practices to inform them about the new channel and the choices available for their practices commenced in 2006–07 and will continue as the financial institutions roll out additional options. A communications campaign for consumers and medical practices is planned for early 2008.