BeInTheKnow: Making the move from Bulk to Mixed Billing

Bp Comms

How do we know if we are registered for BP Comms?

To see if you currently have Bp Comms configured, go to Setup > Configuration > Bp Comms. Click Configure SMS to see if there is any information set up in there. If not, you can contact our Sales team to help you sign up at 1300 401 111.

Once we have organised Bp Comms, is there any particular way we can configure it in Bp?

Yes, you'll need to purchase SMS credits and configure Bp Comms in the Setup window.

Instructions for this process are detailed on our Knowledge Base, which you can access via Help > Online from within the program. Search for 'bp comms'.

How do we enable sending Appointment reminder messages?

There's lots of information available on our Knowledge Base on implementing Bp Comms. You can access via Help > Online from within the program. Search for 'bp comms'.

How do I send a single SMS from the appointment book?

Click the appointment on the screen, then select Utilities from the menu, then Send Message to choose your template and send an individual SMS.

What if we use 3rd Party Booking systems that have communication methods?

Most third-party systems will be able to broadcast or send mass SMS messages using patient lists, along with a template feature.

Will there be an email option in mail merge in the future?

That's certainly some feedback we will pass on to our developers for them to look at in the future!

What are the charges involved when using BP to send SMS messages?

Bp Comms is entirely based on prepaid credits; you only pay for what you use. Depending on the size of the package you buy, each message can cost anywhere from 7c to 13c. Please email sales@bpsoftware.net to speak with a member of our Sales Team for more details on pricing.

Fees

What is the difference between a Practice Fee and a Schedule Fee?

The government has assigned a "Schedule fee" to each item listed on the MBS, which is the price it believes is reasonable for the service.

An out-of-pocket expense is a difference between what a doctor bills for a medical service and what Medicare and private health insurers pay. The terms gap, patient payments, and practice fees are also referred to as out-of-pocket expenses.

Regarding changing the patient setup for private billing. Can this be done in bulk, or must it be done individually?

The usual account type cannot be updated in bulk; each change must be made individually.

If a patient has not registered a bank account with Medicare, how do they get a rebate through patient claiming?

Medicare pays benefits to Patients via Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT). Medicare will write to the patient to request that they provide their bank account details. Review this Getting Medicare Benefits article from Services Australia.

How do you invoice the health care card holder with a one-off out-of-pocket fee as requested? e.g. Afterhours consultation, the item 10990 is added to the MBS items automatically and not allowed to add customer charge.

Since a 10990 is a bulk bill incentive item, it cannot be added to a private account and cannot be privately billed. Using the fee schedule options, you might consider billing the standard attendance item and adding a private gap fee to this.

Can you put a negative discount which is an increase?

You cannot enter a negative discount, only a percentage or dollar amount increase.

You can have as many schedules as you like with different amounts on top of the MBS schedule, like one called Discount at +10% and one called Practice fee at +30%, for example.

Appointments

How do you customise double and triple long slots, e.g., 20 and 30 min instead of the standard 10 minutes?

You can do this in your provider's Sessions setup. Edit the session you want the longer slots for and change the appointment length drop-down to 20 or 30 mins; this will then apply to the appointment book.