Speak Out August 2019 Digital Edition

in practice

Additional virtual business course for members Speech Pathology Australia has collaborated with Realise Business to support, coach and advise those Association members wanting to grow their business to develop a suitable course for members. The first eight-month virtual learning and coaching program is now sold out but the Association is pleased to announce a second course starting mid-October. This course will also will be delivered via eight live webinars and each participant will receive their own dedicated business coach, as well as access to an online portal of recorded webinars, resources and a “closed” Facebook group. Members will be supported analysing their business identity, strengths and realising opportunities. This program is accessible to all Association members in Australia. If there is sufficient interest in this second course it is hoped that a third course will be offered in 2020. The total cost for the eight-month program is $990 (or four direct debit payment of $255). Registration for this exciting opportunity is now open but is limited to 30 members so sign up soon.

Ask SPA? Medicare

Do I have to renew my Medicare provider number every year? No, not unless you have changed work places. The provider number is specific to the location where the service is provided. If you change the location of your work or start work at an additional location you must notify Medicare of these changes and apply for another Medicare provider number - additional location. This can now be completed online through the Health Professionals Online Services (HPOS) portal accessed through your PRODA log in. However, one of the requirements for gaining and then maintaining your eligibility to use a Medicare provider number is that you are a financial practicing member of SPA and so you need to make sure that you have renewed your SPA membership for the 2019/20 financial year. Can I use Medicare Chronic Disease Management (CDM) plan sessions for assessment? What about writing the assessment report? Yes, clients can use CDM plans for assessment sessions, but there is no additional rebate for assessment vs therapy sessions, and these sessions are still taken from the potential maximum of 5 sessions overall for the year. Medicare rebates are only billable for sessions conducted face to face, therefore they cannot be used for the time taken to write a report or other associated activities, for example, a feedback meeting with parents. Can clients use Medicare rebates for sessions conducted over telehealth? No, as above, Medicare states that in order for the speech pathology session to be eligible for a rebate ‘the service is provided to the person individually and in person’. Can NDIS clients still get a Medicare plan? Yes, as Medicare is a universal health service that all Australians and permanent residents are able to access, NDIS participants are also entitled to the same benefits as others without a disability, they just can’t use a Medicare rebate for a session and then pay the "gap" for that session using their NDIS plan. Can you use Medicare and private health funds for the same session? No, as with the NDIS, whilst clients may be entitled to get a Medicare plan when they have private health coverage, they are not able to get a Medicare rebate and private health rebate for the same session. You can read more about the rules of the 10970 Speech pathology Medicare item here.

Private practice workshop

It was a pleasure to visit Perth on Friday 28 June to run the Private practice workshop and meet members from WA. There was a great mix of new and more experienced business owners and sole providers and speech pathologists who run larger practices. Members had the opportunity to listen to a range of speakers discuss issues such as employing staff, the NDIS, and updates from National office. I was pleased that this group were so accommodating when we decided to film the discussion about clinical education to share with all members at a later date-thanks!

Nichola Harris Manager Professional Practice

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August 2019 www.speechpathologyaustralia.org.au

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