Fee Information for Insurers and Third Party Payers
At Hobart Occupational Medicine our aim is to provide professional, comprehensive and integrated health care for injured workers.
Our doctors, Dr Peter Sharman, Dr Helen McArdle and Dr Troy Crowell provide a comprehensive range of services relevant to treatment, rehabilitation and integrated management for workers with complex injuries, in addition to a range of services for employers, insurers and lawyers as detailed in Our Services. We specialise in Complex Case Management for workers referred by their general practitioners. We aim to provide the most cost-effective service by utilising the skills and experience of our doctors according to need.
Complex Case Management involves a high level of communication with other health professionals and rehabilitation providers, in addition to liaison with employers and insurers and, at times, legal practitioners. In this role our doctors will usually also provide medical certification. For workers covered under Tasmania’s workers compensation legislation, our doctors can temporarily take on the role of Primary Treating Medical Practitioner where agreed appropriate.
While much of the necessary communication can occur by telephone, email and written reports, attendance at meetings and case conferences and visits to the workplace are also important to ensure optimum communication, collaboration and teamwork. These activities require significant input of time and effort, particularly in complex cases where there is usually a combination of medical specialists, allied health practitioners and rehabilitation professionals involved, in addition to the worker’s general practitioner.
Our fees are based on the AMA schedule of fees, but there are some services provided by Hobart Occupational Medicine that are not adequately covered by the AMA schedule of fees. We have therefore developed our own fee schedules for consultant occupational physician services (Dr Sharman & Dr McArdle) and non-specialist services that incorporate relevant AMA item numbers. While AMA item numbers are applicable for most consultations, we have developed our own item numbers for some extended consultations, meetings, telephone consultations, teleconferences and workplace visits with the associated fees aligned to AMA fees. Copies of the current Hobart Occupational Medicine fee schedule are available upon request.
Insurers and third party payers liable for the reasonable costs of treatment and rehabilitation will receive separate itemised accounts for services from Dr McArdle and/or Dr Sharman. An initial or review consultation with Dr Sharman or Dr McArdle (Item AG005, HM046 or AG015) is utilised where a treatment and rehabilitation plan is developed.
Where a rehabilitation provider, injury management co-ordinator, insurer or employer representative attends a consultation, a separate item will be charged for a meeting. The fee charged is dependent on the amount of time involved in the meeting. Usually item numbers MM071, MM075 or MM081, aligned to AMA Case Conference Items Items AJ071, AJ075 or AJ081 (Dr Sharman/Dr McArdle) are used. As outlined above, invoices will also be issued for significant telephone contacts, including patient-initiated telephone consultations with the patient, necessary for ongoing case management.
The current fees were reviewed and updated effective 01 January 2020.
See also our remittance advice procedure
Any queries about billing or accounts, our billing policies should be directed to our Business Manager, Ms Ros Luck on 62240935 or email businessmanager@201davey.com.au.
Updated January 2020
