Department of Health (DH) in February 2007 to develop a policy and an agreement for Rights to Private Practice. DH has a positive attitude towards this matter.

Rights to Private Practice would apply to professionals who have a Medicare provider number and are then approved to see private clients/patients using their work facilities. This will be available to part-time as well as full-time employees.

Initial discussions were held regarding Clinical Psychologists. Later discussions expanded the range of health professionals to include all those eligible for a Medical provider number. The scope and activity that would be eligible for private practice is prescribed by Medicare. Details are here.

The new Medicare allied health and dental care initiative allows chronically ill people who are being managed by their General Practitioner under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan to access Medicare rebates for allied health services.

The website then gives further details including eligibility criteria for allied health professionals providing Medicare services.

The professions as listed on this website are:

Audiologists
Chiropractors
Diabetes Educators
Dietitians
Exercise Physiologists
Mental Health Workers (psychologists, mental health nurses, occupational therapists, social workers and Aboriginal health workers)
Osteopaths
Physiotherapists
Podiatrists/Chiropodists
Speech Pathologists

The PSA and DH agreed that a similar agreement to that applying to Medical Specialists would apply to Allied Health Professionals. However this Medical Specialists Agreement is currently under review.

This review has taken longer than DH and PSA envisaged. It is now almost complete, but is awaiting a ruling from the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Once the new Medical Specialists Agreement is in place, then one for Allied Health Professionals should be quickly adapted.

Approved employees will then be able to see private patients/clients in their government office. Issues that need to be discussed are use of government facilities and administrative assistance.

Dentists, dental specialists and dental prosthetists who are eligible for Medicare Provider number may also wish to have Rights to Private Practice. Separate negotiations regarding this profession will be entered into with DH.

It may be that professionals employed by other departments eg. Education and Families & Communities may be eligible for a Medicare provider number and therefore rights to private practice could be negotiated. The PSA will look at these issues after the Allied Health Professional Agreements for those employed by DH are in place.

The PSA is developing a committee comprised of representatives from the above named disciplines to progress this issue expeditiously. This will be an important advisory committee. Please contact Ian Peak if interested in participating on this committee.

For enquiries regarding the contents of this Brief please contact PSA Industrial Officer Ian D. Peak by email ian@cpsu.asn.au or phone 8205 3294.

21 November 2007