Co-claiming of professional consultation and mental health item numbers
Dear Department of Health,
It appears that the Professional Services Review has targeted GPs who co-bill Mental Health and Professional Attendance medicare item numbers.
I would be very keen if you would respond with the following information for the FY 2018-2019:
- What is the gender split for the *patients* whereby the co-billing have taken place?
e.g. 400 male:500 female
- What is their age group? e.g. 20-25, 25-30, 30-35, 35-40
- What is the MMM or RA classification for the doctors co-claiming these numbers?
Yours faithfully,
Dr L
Good afternoon Dr L
The Department of Health (department) has accepted the transfer of three
freedom of information (FOI) requests you made under the Freedom of
Information Act 1982 (Cth) to the Professional Services Review, on the
topic of co-claiming professional consultation and mental health item
numbers. The department will also be processing the FOI request below
which you made to the department.
The department is seeking your agreement for it to combine all four FOI
requests into one FOI request as the requests all deal with the same
subject matter.
Could you please advise the department whether you agree to this proposal
by COB Thursday 20 February 2020?
Kind regards
Ramona
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
[1]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.
Dear FOI,
Thank you for your response.
It's absolutely fine to combine all requests into one.
From my understanding it should not be too onerous to gather the desired information via a Medicare database query.
Yours sincerely,
Dr L
Dear FOI,
Is there any particular holdup to releasing the requested information?
Yours sincerely,
Dr L
Good afternoon Dr L
Thank you for your email. FOI 1541 was deemed withdrawn by the Department
of Health on 4 April 2020 as charges for the request were not paid within
the 30 day period as outlined in the attached charges notice.
If you would like to pursue the documents requested, you will need to
submit a new request under the FOI Act.
Kind regards
Ramona
FOI Unit – FOI and Legislation Support Section
[1]cid:image003.png@01D51610.1D98D220
Legal & Assurance Division | Corporate Operations Group
Legal Advice & Legislation Branch
Australian Government Department of Health
T: 02 6289 1666 | E: [2][email address]
GPO Box 9848, Canberra ACT 2601, Australia
The Department of Health acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of
Australia and their continued connection to land, sea and community. We
pay our respects to all Elders past and present.
If you receive this email in error, please delete it and contact the
sender immediately.