Speak Out
June 2014
17
professional practice news
From 1 July 2014
you can lodge
Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) claims
using a new web-based channel called
DVA Webclaim. DVA Webclaim is a no cost
service designed primarily to assist dental
and allied health providers who only have a
small number of DVA clients to claim. DVA
Webclaim will be available on the Department
of Human Services’ (DHS) Health Professional
Online Services (HPOS) portal.
To access DVA Webclaim you will need:
•
PC or laptop with a USB port;
•
internet connection; and
•
individual Medicare Public Key
Infrastructure (PKI) certificate – to apply for an individual PKI certificate go to
For more information on DVA Webclaim visit:
or
Nichola Harris
Practice and Clinical Support Advisor
Department of Veterans’ Affairs – Web Claiming Launch
Another great resource for members
entering into private practice is SPA’s
Private Practice Member Community
which currently has over 500 dynamic,
highly professional and collegiate
members who discuss and share
information and resources on a whole
range of private practice topics. It’s also
a good place to dip your toe into what is
happening in the private practice world
as you follow posts by lurking in the
background.
Perhaps the silver lining of the increase
in enquiries regarding commencing
private practice is that at least members
are contacting SPA and when they
do we can provide specific and
individualised advice. So please keep
ringing, and emailing us (and supporting
each other through the PP Member
Community and other networking
opportunities) as we all strive to ensure
private speech pathology practices are
gold standard businesses.
Christine Lyons
Senior Advisor Professional Practice
Nichola Harris
Practice and Clinical Support Advisor
PP query:
I want to know how
to advertise my business. I
handed out vouchers for a free
session at the local shopping
centre but someone told me I
shouldn’t be doing that.
SPA’s response:
Any advertising
must be factual and professional
and the client must not be coerced
into attending the service.
Handing out vouchers is not
recommended because it devalues
the service you are providing and
could be seen as coercion if the
client feels that once they have
attended the free session they
are now obliged to continue seeing
you. You must not write negative
comments about your competitors
or make unsubstantiated claims
such as “Best in (location)” or
“Only expert in (condition) in town.”
Resources:
SPA’s FAQs –
Advertising; SPA's Advertising
Standards (under development).
PP query:
I’m not a member of
SPA and I don’t have professional
indemnity insurance because I
can’t afford the fees or I’m only
working a very small amount of
time in PP.
SPA’s response:
Being a member
of SPA provides you with up-to-date
information and resources, and
free ethical, professional, legal, risk
management, human resources
and industrial relations advice
and support. Having professional
indemnity insurance is essential
in private practice to protect
your professional reputation and
livelihood. PI insurance through Guild
also gives you access to free legal
advice with their duty lawyer.
Resources:
SPA’s Professional
Practice Resources section of
the website or contact Nichola
Harris, SPA’s Practice and Clinical
Support Advisor by phoning 1300
368 835 or emailing
