Insurer Report

On 1 July 2011 a number of tables of costs were updated, here is a quick recap of some of the changes.

 

Allied Health 

 

All tables of costs applicable to allied health providers have now been updated and are available on the Q-COMP website.

 

This year Q-COMP started a new, streamlined approach in reviewing tables of costs. The new approach will involve reviewing tables of costs more frequently to allow for changes when they are required.

 

In 2011 six tables of costs were reviewed while the remaining six received a Brisbane CPI indexation.

 

The six tables of costs reviewed this year included:

 

• Exercise Physiology services
• Occupational Therapy services
• Physiotherapy services
• Psychology services
• Return to work services
• Supplementary services

 

Here is a quick summary of the changes:

 

• Increases in fees for consultations across all disciplines
• Increases to the fee for the allied health hourly rate and ensuring all allied health providers have access to the same hourly rate
• Increases to the fees for Supplementary services items covering reports and other admin items
• Increases to the fees for Return to work services items
• Changes to the way Communication and Monitoring of suitable duties programs are charged
  • Items now to be charged in 10 minute blocks instead of five minute blocks e.g. less than 10 mins, 11- 20 mins
• Changes to the way Suitable Duties Programs are charged
  • Suitable Duties Program (SDP) now has two item codes and fees
  • A new item has been created for the preparation of an initial program while the current item (300084) will be used for when a program is updated.

 

The remaining six tables of costs will be reviewed in 2012 and Q-COMP will call for submissions from the relevant associations at the end of this year. The tables of costs to be reviewed in 2012 are:

 

• Chiropractic services
• Nursing services
• Osteopathy services
• Podiatry services
• Rehabilitation support services
• Speech pathology services

 

As always, be sure to check the table of cost applicable for the services you are providing for the details regarding fee changes and any description changes on the Q-COMP website.

 

Public health services

 

The Public health services table of cost which covers services provided by QHealth for self insurers was also updated on 1 July. The new document and an inpatient calculator are also available from the Data hub section on the Q-COMP website.

 

Medical items (MBS)

 

On 1 July Medicare also made some changes to the MBS which of course impacts on the Q-COMP Medical items tables of costs. These changes were in descriptions and item amendments mostly. Fees have not been increased for these items or for any medical supplementary services in this update. Fee changes continue to be updated on 1 November each year and this year any fee changes remain part of the medical fee review.