Specialist FAQ

Specialist FAQ

Am I eligible?

If Medicare recognises you as a specialist you are almost certainly eligible.

If your speciality is on the list you are eligible to provide Telehealth services. Back to the top of the page

Why would I want to provide Telehealth services?

Putting the significant financial incentives to one side for a moment, some of the reasons Specialists have given us include:

You can almost certainly think of other ways Telehealth might integrate with and complement your current practice. Back to the top of the page

What are the financial incentives?

To encourage the early uptake of Telehealth by Specialists the Government has put in place some financial incentives. You can read the full details on the medicare site. Back to the top of the page

What are the medicolegal implications?

The duty of care and medical negligence issues inherent in everyday practice exist regardless of whether a consultation takes place face to face or, via video conference. You are an expert in your field and so ideally placed to know what can be done by video conference, what can't, and when to tell a patient that video conferencing is not clinically adequate and a face to face review will be required.

AHPRA released a final position statement on Telehealth on 16th January 2012. Click here to read it. Back to the top of the page

What equipment is required?

You may already have almost everything you need. Click here to read our coverage of this important issue. We can supply a portable tailor made solution if you require. Back to the top of the page

What do I need to do to get started?

All you need to do now is register. You will need about 3 minutes of spare time. Once you have registered one of our consultants will walk you through the accreditation process. Your secretary will be able to help with most of the requirements of accreditation, so the process will not occupy much of your valuable time. Back to the top of the page

What is involved in getting accredited with GP2U?

Our accreditation process is as quick, painless, and practical as we can make possibly make it. We are sure you'll understand why it's vital that every Specialist we make available via our system is who they say they are. The things we need that may not be immediately to hand include:

You will probably recognise these requirements as being similar to those of typical private hospitals. Back to the top of the page

What is a Working With Children Check and do I need one?

Before our system will allow patients under 18 years of age to make bookings with you a Working With Children Check is required. The reason for this requirement is satisfy the legislative requirements of various State Governments. The actual process simply involves submitting a form and waiting for approval.

This check is entirely optional, and of course irrelevant unless your scope of practice includes paediatric cases. Back to the top of the page

Do I have to sign a contract with GP2U?

No, we're confident we have the best product available so have no need to engage in restrictive practices. Back to the top of the page

Can I video conference directly with my patients without using GP2U?

Yes. We do not restrict your autonomy to practice as you see fit in any way, however we do believe the convenience and features of our product make a compelling case for you to use it. Back to the top of the page

How do I bill?

You bill Telehealth patients in the same way you bill patients for face to face consultations. If you are bulk billing our system offers a fully integrated solution. It also presents all the necessary details for your secretary to use your current billing software.

We can automatically invoice patients on your behalf and allow payment by cheque, money order, direct deposit, credit card or PayPal. Back to the top of the page

Can you bill for me?

Yes, we can bill on your behalf if you wish. This can be any mix of Private and Bulk Billing. Back to the top of the page

Do I have to Bulk Bill to get the incentives?

No. You are free to bill as you see fit. Your patient will receive a higher Medicare rebate (when compared to provision of a traditional face to face service) regardless of how you choose to bill. It should be self evident that the $16 bulk billing incentive will not be payable if you do not bulk bill. Back to the top of the page

How much does GP2U charge?

We do not charge Patients or GPs for using our service. Specialists using our service are provided with a complete virtual office managing everything from bookings to billings on the usual percentage basis. Back to the top of the page

Can I see patients without a GP being involved?

Yes, provided there is a valid referral, the usual doctor patient relationship remains unchanged. You can, for example, conduct a video conference with a patient who is located within the comfort of their own home, provided they have adequate equipment and bandwidth.

The government has provided financial incentives for tripartite consultations where the GP is rewarded with a small premium over their usual consultation fee in return for sitting in on a patient-specialist video conference and "facilitating". The idea of a 3 way consultation represents a paradigm shift in established practice, and its practical utility and uptake remains to be seen.

GP practices represent a convenient location for patients attending video conferences with Specialists. Back to the top of the page

What now?

Contact our team on 1300 058 805. Back to the top of the page

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