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Advertising discounts for podiatry services

Discussion in 'Australia' started by DaVinci, Oct 18, 2015.

Tags:
  1. DaVinci

    DaVinci Well-Known Member


    Members do not see these Ads. Sign Up.
    I have always been confused about the AHPRA advertising discounts. The guidelines say:
    but the next paragraph says it is ok:
    I only post this as this was in my emails this morning. Here is the offer: http://cudo.com.au/podiatry-assessm...=m_5027777_h_0f553b06708a8070bfba4bede6f046de

    Anyone have a comment?
     

    Attached Files:

  2. Craig Payne

    Craig Payne Moderator

    Articles:
    8
    I too get the daily spam from Cudo and did see that one.
    For those who not familiar with Cudo; they like Groupon.
     
  3. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    So the price was $179.50 now $29

    Who can stay in business offering a discount of that size...unless it was never $179.50 in the first place?
     
  4. Pompy

    Pompy Member

    Also, there seem to be a number of Podiatrists in Australia offering 'Gap Free' orthotics? Is this actually legal?
    Surely, a health fund would presume if you put through a pair of orthoses through HICAPS at for example $600, the health fund would expect the patient to be paying the difference between the rebate and the amount charged?
     
  5. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    But whether or not the Podiatrist chooses to charge the gap to that patient is surely at the discretion of the Podiatrist correct? Private health funds may be able to dictate the rebates they issue on certain item numbers but they cannot dictate what you choose to charge. This is where APodC and its various notable private health fund representatives have gotten it so wrong over the years in their representation of Podiatry to the private funds. The current system is archaic even in comparison to Medicare which is still back in the stone age - so what hope have we got? The simple fact that there is no standard item numbering rebates between health funds, there is no standard item numbers between funds (contrary to what you are told HCF want providers to do different things with item numbers than NIB, who want different things to BUPA), most item numbers aren't used or recognized and most health funds have little or NO communication with providers on what they should or shouldn't be billing or how. The fact you cant efficiently bill for a "doppler" (which is a pretty bloody routine daily test in most Podiatry clinics who see Diabetics) is astounding! (By the way Medicare has an item number for "dopplers" performed by GPs and they can claim a good size rebate for performing it).

    Not to mention you are at the beck and call of private health funds when they audit you....

    You have got to scratch your head.

    Regarding CUDO and Discount vouchers, AHPRA are in the business of protecting the public, not Podiatrists reputations.
     
  6. APodC

    APodC Active Member

    Hi Paul, We've spent the last two years negotiating a new billing guide and supporting users guide with the private health insurers. It should at least standardise current billing and we hope it will be finalised before Christmas as it will take another year for funds to fully implement due to the health fund / HICAPS development cycle. We can then move on to talking rebates or extending billing practices once current billing practices have become more standardised.

    Cheers,
    Damian.
     
  7. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    So in essence, Podiatry in Australia is years away from discussing "rebates" or extension of billing practices with private health funds - nothing has changed and nothing is likely to.

    Sorry Damian but posts like the one you just made are "padding" and the standard "we are doing stuff" type "rhetoric". The profession has had ample opportunity over the years and more than a few examples using other professions who have paved the way with Private Health funds in the past - dentistry is a great example.

    The fact that a Podiatrist, a lower limb specialist, represented by a "peak" body in Australia, noted for preventing amputations and reducing diabetic foot disease/mortality/morbidity can't claim from a private health fund or Medicare for doing an "essential" and basic examination such as a "doppler" is criminal. I am sure there are a lot of Podiatrists out there working in other Podiatric areas who also feel this way about their daily clinical activities.
     
  8. APodC

    APodC Active Member

    Thanks Paul. I appreciate that you're still not a fan of the APodC despite our efforts in recent years to be considerably more business like and professional. I hope we can eventually convince you that we're working hard for members and the profession and heading in the right direction.

    Cheers.
    Damian.
     
  9. Tin

    Tin Active Member

    I'm with Paul on this. We are all well studied, qualified and experienced in the field - all this is ongoing too. Yet, when it breaks down to it, we are at the absolute mercy of the health funds to provide them with whatever they demand AND go through the stressful and time consuming procedures. We do all the hard yards with administration and commit our working lives to the cause of improving the health of patients honestly and with care - I'm speaking for the good apples in the cart which I'm sure make up 90%.

    I feel we need more unity and clarity as a profession because at the end of the day - we live and breathe the same message and mission. As it stands now - there feels to be more competition than coalition. Something I personally feel is more a problem with podiatry when compared to other disciplines. This is only my opinion and I definitely might be viewing this the wrong way. I also respect all of my peers and would align with them where possible.

    As for the above topic - if they're selling their services at such a rate, then it's their responsibility to deliver and perhaps their way of income sacrifice to pay for the marketing.
     
  10. Paul Bowles

    Paul Bowles Well-Known Member

    Its not that I am NOT a fan Damian, don't forget I dedicated a very large portion of my life as an unpaid director at an APodA and APodC level. I have personally seen the inner workings and machinations of both organizations. I have to say, since I have left only a few short years ago (granted it was before your time) I have seen very little if anything change.

    I'll be the first in line with subscription dues when things do.
     
  11. surfboy

    surfboy Active Member

    I completely agree, the fact that we as Podiatrists cannot bill for a Doppler examination through Medicare or health funds is CRIMINAL.
    Further to this, a GP practice recently asked me to train their staff in use of their new Doppler which they had bought, specifically so the nurses could run Doppler tests on their patients and claim the Medicare MBS item for doing so!!!
    Criminal criminal criminal !!!!
     
  12. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    Surfboy, turn a negative into a positive.

    You cant change Medicare, so why not train the GP staff, charge to do so and build that referral business from that clinic for your other services. Win win.
     
  13. surfboy

    surfboy Active Member

    Yeah I'll cop that, you're right and I agree. I have received referrals from it and I was happy to do it without charge. I just found it funny that they had NO CLUE how to use the Doppler putting it in the completely wrong positions, yet after my one hour session they are now billing hundreds of dollars a week in Doppler examinations.
     
  14. APodC

    APodC Active Member

    We agree.

    One of the problems with Medicare is that it's been traditionally seen as a tool to primarily fund medical services. In our submission to the MBS review last month we called for some MBS services to be contestable and used item 11612 as an example. We also got it into the Allied Health Professions Australia submission as an example of where MBS items / expenditure are poorly used. There's just over 16,000 claimed by GPs a year.

    We'll be talking about the MBS and other current submissions in a future Australian Podiatrist magazine which is sent to all members.
     
  15. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    Then they were lucky to have you there, a great outcome.
     
  16. CJPWA

    CJPWA Member

    Recently spoke to a health fund about this, their view is that is the business model the pod undertakes, then that's their decision. But, they will be looking for the outliers, and if they show up as being outside the bell curve, they will be asked to explain.
     
  17. trevor

    trevor Active Member

    Damian.
    Have you noticed that football team that never scores a goal eventually loses all it supporters
     
  18. APodC

    APodC Active Member

    I can say I know how Hawthorn feels. No matter how many goals you score, there will always be people who wont become a supporter.
     
  19. Boots n all

    Boots n all Well-Known Member

    l think that would have to be a contender for the best response post for 2016!:empathy:
     
  20. trevor

    trevor Active Member

    :)We are now another year on. "Remember Remember the 5th of November" Sorry Damian I could not resist.:)
     
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