Bp Premier Orchid is available now! (24 January 2023)
Bp Premier version Orchid includes a number of major new features, enhancements, and bug fixes.
View the release notes for a list of changes included in Orchid.
Check out our new feature videos on Email, Patient Search, and Multiple Observations Same Day from the brand new Orchid Knowledge Base.
Orchid is available for download from the Resources page on the Best Practice Software website.
Saffron SP3 Rev1 (17 May 2022)
Saffron SP3 Rev1 contains a number of bug fixes, most of which relate to Medicare Web Services and Australian Immunisation Register functionality.
Saffron SP3 Rev1 also includes a change to the way location AIR provider numbers are used in Bp Premier.
See Record and send immunisations to the AIR for more information.
View the release notes for a list of changes included in Saffron SP3 Rev 1.
Saffron SP3 (08 March 2022)
NOTE In order to use patient verification, online claiming, and Australian Immunisation Register functionality in Saffron SP3, you must connect your copy of Bp Premier to Medicare Web Services if you have not already done so in Saffron SP2.
Hospital services claim changes
As of Saffron SP3, any direct bill invoices marked as In hospital must include a hospital that has been added as a contact in Bp Premier, and the hospital's provider number must be included in the contact record.
Additionally, each hospital services batch must be made up of claims from a single hospital. If you are creating a batch for hospital services, a dropdown menu listing all hospitals with vouchers to be processed will appear, and you can select the hospital you wish to create a batch for.
See Online Claiming: Direct Bill for more information.
Edit pendable patient claims
In Saffron SP3, if a patient claim requires further assessment by an operator, an error will appear indicating that the claim has been marked as pendable, and adjustments may need to be made to the invoice to be accepted by Medicare.
See Online Claiming: Patient Claims for more information.
Direct bill claim numbers
From the 3rd of September 2022, Services Australia have advised that for Direct Bill, DVA, and DVA Allied claims, the Claim ID will no longer reset to @A0001 each day for each provider. There is no change to the format of the Claim ID for these claim types. You do not need to perform any action to enable the new Claim ID.
The change to the Claim ID means that your practice staff will find it easier to locate batched direct bill claims sent through Medicare Web Services. Because the Claim ID is now unique and not reset each day, you will not have to use the sent date and provider information to search for a claim when reconciling.
See Online Claiming: Direct Bill for more information.
Correlation ID numbers
The Correlation ID column has been added to the Online Claiming Screen in Saffron SP3. You may need to provide the correlation ID to Medicare when contacting them about a batch.
You can also view correlation IDs for the batch that a particular invoice was sent in by right-clicking an invoice billed to Medicare or DVA and selecting Show Medicare/DVA transmissions in the Patient Billing History screen.
See Online Claiming: Direct Bill and Using the patient billing history for more information.
Access Australian Immunisation Register information
As of Saffron SP3, Australian Immunisation Register information can be accessed from Bp Premier via the View AIR screen in the Immunisation section of the patient record.
See Access Australian Immunisation Register information for more information.
Send Immunisations to AIR from the Immunisations screen.
As of Saffron SP3, individual immunisations can be sent directly to the AIR from the Immunisation screen in the patient record. You are no longer required to send immunisations to the AIR in bulk, however this workflow is still available if required.
See Record immunisations for more information.
Add an AIR Provider Number
In Saffron SP3 you can add your location's AIR Provider Number via the Location details screen. An AIR Provider Number is required for organisations who wish to upload immunisation data to the AIR and access AIR data through Bp Premier, but the organisation's staff members do not have Medicare provider numbers.
If members of your organisation do have Medicare Provider Numbers, you can disregard this field.
See Setting up a single-location practice or Setting up a multiple-location practice for more information.
Record vaccinations given overseas
In Saffron SP3, you can now select Given overseas from the Billing provider: field in the Immunisations screen to record a vaccination that was not received in Australia. The Country: field will be enabled, and you can select the country that the vaccine was received in.
See Record immunisations for more information.
New preventative health notifications
As of Saffron SP3, preventative health notifications for breast cancer screening and bowel cancer screening will display in the patient record for eligible patients.
See Enabling preventative health notifications for more information.
Hyper links in Internal messages
As of Saffron SP3, you can add hyper links into the body text of internal messages.
See Send internal messages for more information.
AIR functionality for practices with a clinical-only licence
If your practice has a clinical-only Bp Premier licence and you wish to use the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) functionality available in Saffron SP3, you can connect Bp Premier to Medicare Web Services.
See Set up Medicare Web Services for Clinical Only Practices for more information.
Contract Doctor and Registrar user categories added
As of Saffron SP3, the user categories Contract Doctor and Registrar can be selected from the Category: drop-down menu in the New user and Edit user screens.
See Set up a Provider for more information.
New workflow for recording distance travelled for DVA accounts
In Saffron SP3, when creating a DVA account that includes kilometres travelled, you can now select the KM DVA item number via the Account item screen, and enter the number of kilometres.
See Add kilometres travelled to DVA accounts for more information.
Saffron SP2 Rev1 (25 November 2021)
Saffron SP2 Rev1 contains a small number of bug fixes.
View the release notes for a list of bug fixes included in Saffron SP2 Rev 1.
Saffron SP2 (28 October 2021)
Medicare Web Services
Services Australia is upgrading the technology used by Practice management software such as Bp Premier that connect to Services Australia for some digital health services. Bp Premier had previously connected to Services Australia via a Medicare Client Adaptor which utilises a Medicare PKI certificate, also known as a site certificate. In Saffron SP2, the Medicare PKI certificate method has been replaced with a Provider Digital Access (PRODA) account, and the Medicare Client Adaptor has been replaced with Web Services technology.
In Saffron SP2, Medicare, DVA, and Concession verification use Medicare Web Services. Online claiming and Australian Immunisation register functionality use Medicare Web Services as of Saffron SP3.
NOTE After upgrading to Saffron SP2, to use Medicare, DVA, and Concession verification functions, you must successfully set up a connection with Medicare Web Services.
See Medicare Web Services and PRODA, Connect to Medicare Web Services and Configure Bp Premier for PRODA for more information.
Automatic Data Updates
Best Practice Software releases Data Updates (also called 'drug updates') roughly at the beginning of each month. As of Saffron SP2, you can set up Data Updates to download and apply automatically as they are released.
See Run the data update automatically for more information.
Workflow improvements for restoring production data to a test server
In Saffron SP2, you no longer need to disable Bp Premier processes and run the Stop Polling Bp database script when restoring production data to a test server. Instead, when restoring production data to a test server, you can tick or untick a checkbox to indicate whether or not the data is being restored to a production server or to a test server. If you indicate that the data is being restored to a test server, production functionality will be disabled on restore.
See Back up and restore Bp Premier for more information.
Latest news section now available
As of Saffron SP2, the Latest News section has been added to Bp Premier. The Latest News section provides an easy method for accessing recent information about Bp Premier, such as recent updates and known issues, recent newsletter articles, and tips and tricks.
See Bp Premier Latest News for more information.
Gender identity improvements
As of Saffron SP2, several gender identity-related improvements have been made in the word processor:
- Pronoun fields now include the options They, Their and Them, as well as He/She, His/Her, and Him/Her.
- Pronoun fields will now populate from the patient's pronoun or gender identity information in the patient demographic, if available.
- A gender identity field has been added.
See Create a word processor template for more information.
Saffron SP2 introduces the non-binary title 'Mx' to the Title field in the New patient or Edit patient screens.
See Add a new patient for more information.
Password workflow improvements
As of Saffron SP2, the Force password change on next login checkbox has been added to the New user and User details screens, and is ticked by default in the New user screen. When Force password change on next login is ticked, the user will be required to change their password when they next log into Bp Premier.
See Add or update a user for more information.
Visit types can be configured
All available visit types display in Bp Premier by default. In Saffron SP2, visit types can be removed if required.
See Configure Visit Types for more information.
Business names can be added for individual doctors
In Saffron SP2, the New user and Edit user details screens include a Business name: field. If the Business name field is filled, any accounts invoiced for the provider will display the business name entered in this field on the invoice, rather than the location or practice business name.
See Add or update a user for more information.
Option to remove Medicare expiry date alerts
In Saffron SP2, a Check Medicare expiry date checkbox has been added under Setup > Configuration > Appointments. The checkbox is ticked by default. If Check Medicare expiry date is unticked, alerts will no longer appear if the patient's Medicare number expiry date field has not been completed, or if the recorded expiry date has passed.
See Configure Appointment Book for more information.
Diabetes risk added to database search
Diabetes risk can now be selected from the observations list in the Database Search screen.
See Search for patients with diabetes for more information.
DASS21 added to clinical functions
The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale - 21 Items (DASS21) are a set of three self-report scales designed to measure the emotional states of depression, anxiety and stress. In Saffron SP2, the DASS21 has been added as an option under Clinical in the patient record.
See Available clinical functions for more information.
HealthLink icon added to the Patient Record
You can now open a new HealthLink SmartForm by selecting the HealthLink icon in the Patient Record.
See HealthLink Online forms for more information.
Concession card verification now available
You can now verify whether or not a patient is eligible for a concession card via the patient demographic.
See Add a new patient for more information.
School IDs can be recorded with vaccinations
Schools can now be added as contacts, which can then be selected when recording vaccinations for students in school programs. The School information will not upload to the AIR at this stage. However, this functionality will become available in a future release.
See Add a new contact and Record immunisations for more information.
Improvements to the Follow up Inbox workflow
Saffron SP2 introduces the ability to choose not to mark reports in the follow-up Inbox as Contacted, and introduces the Attempts column for keeping track of the number of times a contact attempt has been made for a report.
See Marking results as contacted in the Follow up Inbox for more information.
Three week recurring appointment interval added
You can now set the frequency for recurring appointments to three weeks.
See Book a recurring appointment for more information.
AHPRA numbers can be added to Invoices
In New South Wales, the State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) requires that health practitioners who deliver services to an injured worker include their AHPRA registration number on all invoices.
As of Saffron SP2, an option for adding AHPRA numbers to invoices is available under Setup > Configuration > Billing.
See Add AHPRA to invoice templates for more information.
Outgoing email improvements
Saffron SP2 adds improved outgoing email functionality, including the ability to send PIN-protected PDF documents, and improved TLS encryption.
See Setting up Bp Premier to use email and Send emails from Bp Premier for more information.
Online cardiovascular risk calculator added
As of Saffron SP2, the option to use the Australian Chronic Disease Prevention Alliance's cardiovascular disease calculator is available via Clinical > Cardiovascular risk in the patient record. Click Online CVD Check to open a browser window displaying the calculator.
See Available clinical functions for more information.
Indicate your location's Modified Monash category
As of Saffron SP2, you can set your location's Modified Monash Category via Setup > Practice details > Add. Select the option applicable to your practice location from the MM Location menu. Depending on your location, bulk billing incentives will be applied differently.
See Setting up a single-location practice or Setting up a multiple-location practice for more information.
Document viewer improvements
An improved Document viewer has been included in Saffron SP2. The new document viewer is faster and more robust than the previous viewer.
See Using the Document Viewer for more information.
Add a duration for once only prescriptions
As of Saffron SP2, when prescribing medication using the New Rx wizard in the patient record, if Once only prescription is selected, you will have the option to indicate the duration that the medication should be taken for, or to indicate that the medication should be taken until finished. This information will be printed on the prescription.
See Add or cease Rx for more information
Saffron SP1 (June 2021)
Bp Premier Saffron SP1 includes a number of new features, enhancements, and bug fixes.
Pathology and Imaging eOrdering changes
The new eOrdering setup screen includes all functionality required to set up and configure eOrdering providers for pathology and imaging. It combines functionality that is found under Setup > Preferences > Pathology and Imaging and View > Contacts.
This means the eOrdering can now be set up in the one location in Bp Premier.
See Set up Pathology eOrdering in Saffron SP1 or later and Set up Imaging eOrdering in Saffron SP1 or later for more information.
Export to PDF available in the Subpoena tool
In Saffron SP1, you will have the option to export records to PDF using the Subpoena tool.
See Subpoena Tool for more information.
Medicare refunds
Further features have been added to the Medicare refunds functionality introduced in Saffron.
Practices will now be able to refund partial payments to Medicare.
See Refund a Medicare payment for more information.
Add patients without appointments to the cancellation list
Patients can now be added to the cancellation list without an existing appointment.
See Rebook a patient from the cancellation list for more information.
Allow brand substitution is now opt-out
The allow brand substitution checkbox in the New Rx workflow is now opt-out rather than opt-in.
See Add or cease Rx for more information.
Electronic prescribing with Medisecure
Practices using Medisecure as their prescription exchange service (PES) will now be able to send electronic prescriptions.
Previously, electronic prescriptions could only be sent by practices using eRx.
See Set up electronic prescribing for more information.
Other electronic prescribing improvements
When attempting to send an electronic prescription, if you are missing details in Bp Premier that are required to send the electronic prescription. an alert will appear indicating which details are missing.
See Set up electronic prescribing for more information.
When setting up a user with prescribing capabilities, if you are missing details in the New user screen that are required to send electronic prescriptions, an alert will appear indicating which details are missing.
See Add or update a user for more information.
You will now need to authorise electronic prescriptions before sending.
See Electronic prescribing for more information.
Other changes
When a patient's Medicare or DVA number changes, you will be prompted to revalidate their IHI number.
As a number of features currently use IHI numbers, revalidating a patient's IHI number when Medicare or DVA numbers change ensures that functions within Bp Premier run smoothly.
See Patient Health Identifier validation for more information.
The maximum document database rollover size has been increased to 9.5GB.
See Change Document Database Rollover Size for more information.
The method for setting up acknowledgements via the messaging provider screen has been improved.
See Set up a messaging provider for more information.
Saffron (13 January 2021)
Bp Premier version Saffron includes a number of major new features, enhancements, and bug fixes.
Secure messaging and online directories
Users can search and retrieve recipients for addressing in referrals and correspondence, and synchronise local contacts with FHIR online directory entries. See how to set up a secure FHIR online directory here.
Electronic prescribing next edition
Saffron includes support for sending eScripts to the Best Health App, and Real Time Prescription Monitoring is also now enabled for electronic prescribing for all participating states. See Electronic prescribing for more information.
Password and access security
Password security and user account access has undergone significant changes in Saffron to conform with ADHA standards for practice management systems that use electronic prescribing, including the ability for an administrator to set a minimum password length and complexity, as well as a new 'inactivity timeout' that will log a user out if a screen is left unattended. Review the changes here.
Best Practice Software also recommend that you read the release notes to prepare your staff for the changes in password security.
National Cancer Screening Register
Saffron features an integration with the National Cancer Screening Register (NCSR). Patients registered with the National Cervical Screening and Bowel Cancer Screening programs will feature a dedicated NCSR 'hub' in their clinical record. See how to set up NCSR here and use the hub here. Or search for 'NCSR' in the knowledge base (Help > Online).
Medicare refunds
Saffron introduces a Medicare Refunds function for cases where a batched item needs to be refunded after the claim has already been paid. This function replaces the current manual process of submitting the paperwork, refunding the incorrect value, and reclaiming the item. Your practice will no longer need a support call to Best Practice Software to remove the payment and adjust the service.
See Refund a Medicare payment for more information.
Active Ingredient Prescribing
Prescriptions written for PBS and RPBS medication will now have the medication's active ingredients listed on them by default, rather than a brand name. You can still include a brand name on the script as well as active ingredients, if the prescriber considers the brand name necessary for safety or other reasons.
See Understanding Active Ingredient Prescribing for more information.
Last updated 25 October 2021
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