Building on its COVID-19 response effort, HealthEngine, Australia’s largest consumer healthcare platform, is rolling out its telehealth phone/video consultation offering to GP practices throughout Australia. This first to market solution allows practices an easy entry point to offer appointments on the HealthEngine Network for both Patient Eligible Telehealth MBS and Private Billed Telehealth appointments.
Practices decide what type of consultations they will offer and the price (for private billed). They can choose phone consultation and/or video consultation via FaceTime, Skype or WhatsApp.
For the Patients Eligible for Telehealth MBS appointment type, practices can start taking these appointments immediately. Given the federal government today released details of the Medicare items, HealthEngine will follow up with a full rebate solution shortly. The MBS rebate telehealth solution is offered at no cost to practices.
Practices also have the option to offer Private Billed Telehealth Appointment to support patients and GPs who prefer the option of a telehealth solution, even if the patient is not eligible for MBS. To offer this option, there will be an introductory low-cost fee of $5 per month per participating practice and a 5% usage fee per private billed telehealth appointment. This allows the practice to offer privately billed appointments with patient pre-paying at the time of booking. Pre-payment is completed through the secure payment platform, Stripe, and protects the practice from Do Not Attends (DNAs) and guarantees payment.
“As we prepare for the continued uncertainty of COVID-19, we’re offering practices the telehealth solutions and resources they need to support and protect patients, clinic staff and GPs,” said Dr Marcus Tan, HealthEngine Founder, CEO and Medical Officer. “HealthEngine now has a low or no cost solution for practices who want to offer their patients phone or video consults with a seamless way to take bookings and payment to immediately start seeing patients and determining the best options for care.”
Practices interested in signing up can get more information here.
