TUESDAY, 31 MARCH 2020
Temporary Medicare Telehealth Items
More details as below:
Read the Factsheet MBS changes and FAQs here.
Please help ESSA staff and only contact us if you have a question not answered within these FAQs.
We are yet to receive information from the NBN on usage tips and guidance for you and your clients.
ESSA has created a list of potential Telehealth providers for members. Click here.
New Wage Subsidy Scheme
Read the Fact Sheet on the ECONOMIC RESPONSE TO THE CORONAVIRUS – Supporting businesses to retain jobs
This is a new wage subsidy scheme (JobKeeper Payment) announced last night for sole traders, full time, part time and casual employees (those employed for more than 12 months by a single employer). This scheme pays each employee or sole trader a flat salary of $1,500 per fortnight backdated from 1 March 2020 to 30 September 2020. Here is link to another simple breakdown by a law firm of the new scheme.
To register as a sole trader or an employer with the Australian Taxation Office, click here.
Other Business Support
Please find links to national resources to help you. We will have more tomorrow on assistance at state level.
Australia Government Business: Support Coronavirus information and support for business
Tenancies & Evictions: Moratorium on evictions for the next six months for residential and commercial tenants
Banks - business relief for Loans/Mortgages: Australian Banking Association
Student Insurance Coverage for Telehealth Services
We have been advised by our insurance partner, Guild Insurance, that any ESSA student member covered under the ESSA Student Master Insurance Policy who is undertaking practicum will be covered as long as the student is one hundred percent supervised by a qualified practitioner – whether virtually, on the phone or in person. The ESSA Student Master Insurance Policy covers professional indemnity and public & products liability cover, it is not a workers’ compensation insurance policy, and therefore students would be required to be covered separately for workers compensation.
Other FAQs
Q. Can I continue to operate Indoor or Outdoor Group Classes?
ESSA would like to provide a clarification regarding group classes. After careful consideration and on-going liaison with Government departments, ESSA would like to provide clarification from the message from the ESSA Board and CEO on Friday 27 March, 2020 and the Prime Minister’s announcement on Sunday night (29 March, 2020).
ESSA recommends that all members cancel all group classes (indoor and outdoor) from tomorrow 1st April until further notice. ESSA apologises for any confusion caused and acknowledge that our team may have provided contrary advice to some members today, however ESSA has made this decision for the safety of all Australians and to further minimise the spread of COVID-19.
This means Medicare Item 81115 for type 2 diabetes (group diabetes) and NDIS group services classes must cease as well.
Members’ businesses must put patient/clients/staff’s health and safety first and we do not believe that group classes provide a safe environment and support social distancing expectations.
Outdoor classes/boot camps were restricted to one person and a client yesterday.
Q. What should I do if the police knock on the door?
Calmly explain that you offer a clinical health service as an AEP. If you haven’t already put a sign explaining this on your front door. You can also show a letter from the Department of Health that explains clinical gyms can be open, click here to download a copy.
Q. Can a masseur work in an Accredited Exercise Physiologist or other allied health practice?
No, masseurs cannot work in an allied health practice as masseurs are not recognised as allied health professionals and are not registered under the Health Practitioner Regulation National Law which covers Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (APHRA).
Q. Can I film in a large gym (Queensland only)?
Yes, if you live in Queensland. There are no Queensland Chief Health Officer Directions that specifically prohibit filming workouts within a studio/gym for the purpose of training remotely.
While Queensland gyms cannot operate in terms of allowing clients to enter, the Queensland Government can see no reason why two people creating a video from the gym would contravene the directives, assuming they are practising appropriate hygiene measures, social distancing and are not working/leaving their home if they are unwell.
ESSA is seeking clarification about filming in other states but in the meantime, for those other states, please follow our advice from yesterday: All large commercial gyms should be closed and should not be used or repurposed for any reason, including filming.
Want to know how to attract clients to your online services?
This Friday ESSA is delivering a webinar on ‘How to get clients for the online part of your business’ covering key marketing strategies now and in the future. Click here for more information and to register.
Recording now available - COVID-19 response update for Allied Health Practitioners
The recording of last week’s - COVID-19 response update for Allied Health Practitioners is now available here.