Medicare: what you need to know
Summary: Managing Medicare and practising within the guidelines is an essential aspect of delivering patient care for medical professionals. Here are some useful resources on Medicare best practice, that will help minimise the chances of being the subject of an audit.
Key messages
Prioritise Cybersecurity Education
Medical practices and doctors must prioritise ongoing cybersecurity education and training for all staff members. From front desk personnel to doctors, everyone should be aware of the latest cybersecurity threats, how to identify them, and the best practices for preventing data breaches. Regular training sessions and updates on emerging threats can significantly reduce the risk of successful cyberattacks.
Implement Robust Data Protection Measures
It's crucial for medical practices to implement robust data protection measures to safeguard sensitive patient information. This includes encryption of data, strong access controls with multi-factor authentication, regular data backups, and the use of up-to-date antivirus and antimalware software. Additionally, ensuring compliance with regulations such as Privacy Act 1988 and the Australian Privacy Principles (APP) is essential for maintaining patient trust and avoiding costly penalties.
Stay Vigilant and Proactive
Rather than adopting a reactive approach to cybersecurity, medical practices and doctors should adopt a proactive stance by regularly assessing their IT systems for vulnerabilities, conducting penetration testing, and staying updated on security patches and updates. Establishing a response plan for potential data breaches is also crucial, including steps for containment, notification of affected parties, and cooperation with regulatory agencies. By staying vigilant and proactive, medical practices can better protect patient data and mitigate the impact of cyber threats.
Medicare compliance insights
Bulk billing and private billing issues
Medicare billing without the patient present
Time components in Medicare item numbers
Referrals and medicare billing
Co-billings medicare item numbers
Medicare billing in public hospitals
Chronic disease management plans
More resources to assist you
Department of Health
Compliance education for health professionals
Health professional guidelines
Department of Human Services
MBS education for health professionals
Education services for health professionals
Other
Medicare Billing Compliance eLearning course from DP Learning