DoHDA explores reducing admin burden from assignment of benefit changes

The Federal Government says it will continue to look for opportunities to ease the burden on GPs resulting from moves to modernise and streamline Medicare billing for bulk-billed services.
 
Changes were introduced on 1 July requiring practices to adjust the procedure for obtaining consent from patients for the assignment of benefits (AoB) – the legal basis that allows Medicare to pay a patient’s benefit directly to a provider for bulk-billed services.
 
After concerns were raised by the RACGP about some of the processes, such as the challenge in obtaining consent from aged care patients, the Government took steps to ease the pressure points as well as introduce a transition phase.
 
Now, three months into the 12-month transition period, the Government has released new information to refresh providers on the requirements as well as providing a clearer roadmap to compliance.
 
Practices have also been assured the Government will explore ways ‘to further reduce administrative burden on GP practices and patients while maintaining Medicare integrity’.
 
In new information to providers, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) confirmed it is ‘continuing its investigation of legal options for simpler bulk billing’, with advice to be provided to the Federal Government later this calendar year.
 
Speaking further about this at a recent AoB webinar, Assistant Secretary of the Government’s Medicare Reviews Unit, Louise Riley, said that as practices implement the changes, the Department is open to hearing ‘practical ideas to reduce unnecessary burden and improve usability’.
 
‘As was announced with the transition period, we’re also continuing to consider and advise Government on whether further administrative simplification of assignment of benefit arrangements is possible,’ she said.
 
‘We will continue to consult on that work as well, and of course we’re responsive to suggestions from all stakeholders, recognising that this is an administratively and very legally complex space with regulatory, operational, and integrity considerations.’
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said while practices are taking steps to adjust, there is still more work to be done ‘to ensure the new system embeds well and that patients can get the care they need’.
 
He also encouraged members to reach out to the college if they had concerns.
 
‘When it became clear that assignment of benefit processes weren’t going to be practical for people unable to provide informed consent, many GPs became concerned, particularly those providing care to aged care facilities,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘We’re really pleased that the Department and the Government worked with us to provide a 12-month transition period, and it has been really helpful hearing from GPs who explained why the initial proposals were going to be a barrier for some patients to access care.
 
‘These messages are definitely being shared with the Department of Health, and we look forward to seeing further changes which will make sure that patients are able to access the care they need, and GPs will be paid for providing it.
 
‘We certainly don’t want anyone to be inadvertently non-compliant with processes, and we will continue work with the Department and the Government to make sure that any changes made are fit for purpose.’
 
Dr Wright added that at three months in, many software vendors and practices are making use of some of the digital assignment tools that are now available.
 
‘That’s been helpful for many in-practice consultations, but we need to make sure that the system works for our most vulnerable Australians, who often might not be able to have a routine attendance in a practice,’ he said.
 
Amongst the key areas the DoHDA is bringing providers’ attention to is that verbal assignment of benefit is enabled for all bulk-billed patients, in all settings, during the 12-month transition period.
 
This allows for providers to take additional time needed to update workflows, train staff and adapt.
 
It will also assist some patients who have limited physical or cognitive capacity to complete new assignment steps as well as ensuring technical aspects of the requirements, such as systems and connectivity, have time to catch up.
 
The Department also explained that it is focussing on ‘education and prevention’ to help providers understand what needs to happen as they move towards having compliant processes.
 
‘Assignment of benefit is not new. It is the established legal basis that allows Medicare to pay a patient's benefit directly to a provider for bulk billed services. However, we do recognise that for many providers and practices, applying with the updated requirements may feel new, with some encountering assignment of benefit processes for the first time,’ Ms Riley said.
 
For more information, including answers to some of the common questions the health department is receiving, visit the DoHDA’s website for latest information and to view the webinar.
 
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