Home-based billing for small clinics

Solo practitioners and small clinics that don't have the time or staff to keep up with billing and follow-ups.

Usually a monthly retainer, a fee per claim or invoice, or an hourly rate. Some services charge a percentage of money collected, so check what suits each client.

• Careful, accurate data entry
• Learning Medicare, health fund and NDIS billing rules
• Comfortable with practice software and spreadsheets
• Discreet with private patient information

• Health information is sensitive. Check your obligations under the Privacy Act and the Australian Privacy Principles, and put a confidentiality clause in every contract
• Check how each client should give you access to Medicare or NDIS systems. Use proper delegation, never shared logins
• Billing errors can lead to rejected claims or compliance issues for your client, so check professional indemnity and cyber insurance
• Register for an ABN, and check whether and when you need to register for GST
• Check whether your council requires approval for a home-based business

Startup costs are typically around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on your software, equipment and insurance. Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $1,000 to $5,000, depending on how many clinics you bill for.

Check your Privacy Act and Australian Privacy Principles obligations, and how to access Medicare or NDIS systems through proper delegation, never shared logins. Also check professional indemnity and cyber insurance, ABN and GST registration, and council rules.

Useful skills include careful data entry, learning Medicare, health fund and NDIS billing rules, comfort with practice software and spreadsheets, and discretion. Estimates suggest at least around 10 hours a week, depending on your client numbers.