PSR Director's Update for April 2019

A. Director’s Section 92 agreements effective in April 2019

The following agreements entered into by the Director and persons under review (in accordance with s 92 of the Act) came into effect:

• An agreement with a general practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 23, 36, 721, 723, 5020, 56001, 56022, 56220, 56223, 56619, 69303, 69309, 69474 and 69496, and PBS items 1215Y, 2622B and 8254K. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items, except for PBS item 1215Y in relation to which the Director had no concerns. The practitioner agreed to repay $260,000, to be disqualified from providing MBS items 36, 56223, 56619 and 69496 for 12 months, and will be reprimanded by the Director. 
   
• An agreement with a medical practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 598 and 600. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items. The practitioner agreed to repay $290,000, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   
• An agreement with a general practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 23, 35, 707 and 11708 and PBS item 2089Y. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items, except for MBS items 23 and 707 in relation to which the Director had no concerns. The practitioner agreed to repay $50,000, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   
• An agreement with a medical practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 598 and 600, and PBS items 3119E and 8254K. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing items 598 and 600.  The Director had no concerns in relation to PBS items 3119E and 8254K. The practitioner agreed to repay $120,000, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   
• An agreement with a general practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 36, 43, 2713, 2715, 5040, 66596, 66819 and 71166, and PBS items 2622B and 8501K. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items. The practitioner agreed to repay $160,000, to be disqualified from providing MBS items 5040 and 66819 for 12 months, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   
• An agreement with a general practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 23, 5020, 18236, 30071, 30195, 30196, 30197, 31280, 31358, 31361, 31365, 45200, 45201, 45206, 45439 and 45451. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items, except for MBS items 5020, 30071, 30195, 31280, 31361 and 31365 in relation to which the Director had no concerns. The practitioner agreed to repay $180,000, to be disqualified from providing MBS items 18236 and 45206 for 12 months, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   
• An agreement with a general practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 36, 721, 723 and 732, and PBS items 3119E and 8254K. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items. The practitioner agreed to repay $140,000, to be disqualified from providing MBS items 721, 723 and 732 for 12 months, to be disqualified from providing MBS items 36 for six months, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   
• An agreement with a general practitioner. The Director reviewed this practitioner’s rendering of MBS items 23, 721, 723, 2700, 31206, 56223, 56501, 63551, 63560, 66596, 66650, 66839, 66840, 69306, 71167 and 73529, and PBS items 10778G, 1210Q, 2622B, 3103H, 3162K, 8254K, 8318T, 8319W, 8611F and 8785J. The practitioner acknowledged they engaged in inappropriate practice in connection with providing these items, except for MBS items 66838, 69303, 69306, 69396 and 69496, and PBS items 10778G, 1210Q, 3103H, 3119E, 3401B, 8254K, 8318T, 8319W and 8601Q in relation to which the Director had no concerns. The practitioner agreed to repay $425,000, to be disqualified from providing MBS items 721, 723, 2700, 31206, 66596, 66650, 66839, 66840 and 71167 for 12 months, and will be reprimanded by the Director.
   

B. PSR Committee final determinations

No determinations became effective in April 2019.

C. Federal Court

No decisions from the Federal Court were handed down in April 2019.  

D. Referrals to the major non-compliance (fraud) division (89A & 106N)

No matters were referred to the major non-compliance (fraud) division in April 2019.

E. Referrals to AHPRA (106XA/B)

One matter was referred to AHPRA in April 2019.