Services Australia Upgrade: Digital and Aged Care Claiming Channels

The following update has been provided by Services Australia.

Services Australia is pleased to be working with Occupational Therapy Australia to ensure you’re prepared for the upgrades we’re making to our digital health and aged care channels.

These upgrades will take effect from 13 March 2022.

We want to make sure you know how these upgrades will impact you, and that you’re ready well before the March 2022 deadline.

What channels are being upgraded

We’re upgrading the following channels to web services:

Medicare Online (Including AIR and DVA)
This is the digital claiming channel used to submit claims and data to us. It’s usually integrated within practice management software. It includes access to the Australian Immunisation Register (AIR) and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA).

ECLIPSE
This is an extension of Medicare Online and provides a secure connection for communication and in hospital claiming lodgement between health professionals, public and private hospitals, private health insurers, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Services Australia. It also offers providers direct communication with Services Australia and private health insurers in the one transaction.

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Online
This is the digital claiming channel used to submit PBS claims and data to us.

Aged Care Online/Web Services
This is a new digital channel that will be used by aged care providers to submit claims and data to us.

In addition to the upgrade to web services, we’ll also be moving our authentication from PKI technology to Provider Digital Access (PRODA).

Why we’re making these upgrades

These upgrades will ensure our digital health and aged care claiming channels are secure and using up-to-date industry standard technology.

What this means for you

If you use any of these channels, you’ll need to upgrade your software to web services compatible software.

You must complete your software upgrade and ensure it’s operational before 13 March 2022. You may also need to create a PRODA account, if you don’t already have one.

If your software isn’t updated by 13 March 2022, claims and transmissions may need to revert to HPOS, and this may create additional administrative pressure and costs for your business

What you need to do

1. Contact your software developer now to find out when they’ll have their web services ready software available. You’ll need to ensure they’re able to upgrade your software before the deadline.
2. Your next steps will depend on the digital channels you need to access.

Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpwebservices to download the web services eKit to view factsheets for each channel. They will provide instructions on what you can do now to prepare.

If you currently use HPOS for your claims

If you currently submit your claims using HPOS or don’t use software, you don’t need to anything. These upgrades won’t affect you.

If you’d like to start using software, a list of web services ready software developers is available. Go to servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpwebservices, and select ‘How to find a software developer’.

For more information

You can find out more at servicesaustralia.gov.au/hpwebservices, this page is updated regularly with the latest information.

If you still can’t find the information you need, please contact your representative at Occupational Therapy Australia and we’ll work with them to provide you the information.