Specialists in public hospital outpatient clinics that require named referrals are leaving themselves vulnerable to medicolegal issues and could even be ordered to repay Medicare rebates billed in their name, a leading expert is warning.
![](https://thelimbic.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/margaret-faux.jpeg)
Margaret Faux
The message comes amid a recent uptick in the practice, which enables the public hospital to treat patients privately – with the care funded under Medicare rather than a state or territory health budget.
However, the federal Department of Health has raised concerns, declaring hospitals are legally prohibited from rejected unnamed referrals under clause G19b of the current National Health Reform Agreement.
Pledging to crack down on the problem last year, it also launched a dedicated tip-off line for GPs to dob-in any hospital they believe is mandating named referrals.
So tired of the additional burden of busy work. #stupidshitinhealthcare #namedreferrals pic.twitter.com/VFXY44TlFV
— Dr Mariam Tokhi (@mariamtokhi) August 19, 2022
But any consequences are also likely to fall on the doctors working in the outpatient clinics themselves, says Dr Margaret Faux (PhD), a lawyer and researcher into health regulation.
“These specialists are actually really vulnerable,” says Dr Faux, who is also the CEO of medical administration company Synapse Medical Services.
“The Commonwealth is very focussed on public hospital outpatient departments right now and I think they would like to make an example of one if they can.”