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Hi,

Was just wondering how diligent other podiatrists are with sending EPC reports back to referring GPs at the patients first and last visit. I recently received a letter from Medicare outling their EPC requirements and wasn't aware a report was required at the final EPC visit. This seems like a lot of extra paperwork for a consultation that pays below the standard.

Any thoughts?

It has always been the 'rule' that you must write back after the first and last consults.

Mind you - you dont get paid to do this...

One of pet gripes has always been that we have been lumped into the same category of rebates as allied health groups like dietitians who have almost zero overheads relative to podiatrists. We should be on the same rebate levels as dentists - then I wouldn mind the pointless paper trail as much.

So much for effective lobbying by our professional bodies...

LL

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Remember, it's just a foot.

Dear Trosewarne80,

You can charge what ever you like, even $1000.00, it is the patient who is restricted to a max rebate of $48.75.

The GP gets quite a few dollars for his referral and we get SQUIT.

That is how the cookie crumbles.

You could refuse to provide care to pts using EPC plans.

As the PROVIDER of Podiatry Care you can do what you wish. The GP and Pt choose whom to see .

regards David

I prepared a generalised form for which I fill in the blanks. Suggestions include Chief Foot Complaint, Clinical Findings, Treatment and Proposed Management. Makes my life easier and I trust it is cassified as a report.
Regards Lorraine

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G'day,

At the practice where I work, we also have a generic sheet that we use to send to the doctors for first and last appointments, with tick boxes as to what we've done and room to add further comments. The receptionist makes sure we get one with the first and last appointment, and it takes us about 20 seconds to fill in. Works well, but I doubt the doctors read them anyway.

Cheers!

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Adrian Misseri
B.Pod.,M.Hlth.Sci.(Pod.)

You know.. we could just cut it off.....?

Hi, we also have the tick the box generic letter but withk room for requests and comments. Again does not take like to type but then they all have to be folded and sent. Seems ridiculous when you finish 1 plan this week and start the next one straight after BUT at least we are included on the EPCP.
I am sure that we are all developing more and more ties with the GP's, this has to be good.
I have noticed that many are now quoting us when asking for Tx. No longer can you cut nails. They ask for things like optimum foot health, Annual Diabets foot Ax, to check out shoes, pt has an ulcer, poor gait, biomechanics etc.

I think this has been the biggest teaching project for other health professionals about what we do of all times ( maybe a bit of an exaggeration )

Cheers

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Heather J Bassett
137 Wheatsheaf Road
Glenroy 3046
Victoria
Australia

Which rebates are you referring to?

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My location

footdoctor.md
nyfootexpert.com

I also use a standard form which doesn't take long to fill out.
BUT I have the problem that a couple of diabetic educators (whose job is to allocate the no. of visits in those clinics) send Pts with a referral for 1 visit early in the year, then "hold over " other visits until later in the year. So, the Pt appears AGAIN and AGAIN later in the year with MORE visits (1 each time), so I never really know which is the "final' visit....!!
I found myself writing endless "final" letters.........