2024 Podiatry Billing Schedule Update
6 Aug 2024
The current Podiatry Billing Schedule was last updated and released in 2017. Despite multiple attempts over the years to review and update the item numbers, the primary limiting factor has been the valued input from key stakeholders, including podiatrists and the numerous private health insurers across Australia.
In 2021, the APodA initiated a co-design approach to reviewing the Podiatrist Billing Schedule. This initiative brought together the APodA, several APodA-member podiatrists, Private Healthcare Australia (PHA), and their member private health insurers.
From 2021 to 2023, the APodA’s advocacy team drafted and presented several iterations of the Podiatry Billing Schedule, fuelled by our member podiatrists' unwavering support and direction.
By late 2023, the final draft of the billing schedule was delivered to PHA and the working group. With a few further adjustments, PHA accepted the responsibility of managing the final public release and ongoing support of the schedule.
What’s happening next?
The rollout date for the updated billing schedule is set for 1 September 2024.
The APodA has connected with both PHA and a range of private health insurers to ensure its effective implementation. Given the complexity of executing a revised billing schedule, the need to map the schedule against the rebates at the insurers’ end is significant. After numerous discussions, APodA is confident that most, if not all, private health insurers will be ready by this date.
What do podiatrists need to be aware of?
Moving forward, PHA, as the peak body for most private health insurers in Australia, will communicate this revised schedule with third-party entities such as HICAPS. PHA will also work on the public delivery of this new schedule to ensure podiatrists and their businesses are prepared in a timely manner.