Nurse Payslip Audit and Scrapped Nursing Item No.s

CURRENT CIRCULATION: 7,894

DATE: 3rd February, 2012

ISSUE NO: 188

Welcome to Health & Life’s free email newsletter service. Tell a friend that we would be happy to

add their email address to the distribution list. This service is to provide Health and Life’s clients and

those who attended our presentations with up to date information on key financial and practice

management issues that may affect your practice. Please do not use this as a substitute to seeking

professional advice.

Writer in charge: Mr David Dahm BA.Acc, FCPA, FTIA, Ffin, FAAPM, FGLF.

Nursing Union Payslip Audit & MBS Nursing Items

Scrapped Update 2

& NT, NSW & QLD Feb to Mar Coffee Chat Practice Visits

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Nursing Union Payslip Audit & MBS Nursing Items Scrapped Update 2– URGENT

MATTER

2. NT, NSW & QLD February to March 2012 Seminar and One to One Meetings

3. Catching up with David Dahm and the Team

4. Where to from here?

Nursing Union Payslip Audit & MBS Nursing Items Scrapped Update 2

1. Introduction

Breaking news!!

Happy 2012 everyone. As we break from the holiday season it looks like it is going to be a really

busy year for all of us. Practices are on some pretty tight deadlines to get their nursing

documentation right and yes the devil is in the detail. We hope this edition and our free quick

employment agreement review service will help you complete this difficult task quickly.

Nursing Union Payslip Audit

We are receiving reports that the Australian Nurses Federation are now requesting practices to

provide payslip information. Your employment contracts are up for further scrutiny as reported in

our last news alert edition Nursing Update 1 no. 187 see http://bit.ly/n9c3oM . They are also

requesting information from nurses about their employment arrangements via their online survey

program. We have generated a similar but free survey for both employers and employees so it is

more balanced for the Fair Work Commissioner to consider. This will also help you identify any

problems and we can provide some initial confidential assistance without obligation if there is an

issue.

We are concerned that the Community Service Award has recommended increases of up to 41%

based on the female gender. These claims were supported in the Fair Work Commission on 1

February 2012.

MBS Nursing Items Scrapped & Practice Compensation

This would not be sustainable if a similar decision was passed onto practices where the average pay

is $31 per hour for nurses. To compound this problem the majority of nursing item numbers have

been scrapped.

From the 1 January 2012 the practice nurses incentives have been capped to $25,000 per nurse up

to 5 nurses and quite a number of nursing Medicare Benefits item numbers have been dumped.

Practices that apply before 1st July 2012 can be compensated by Medicare for loss of rebate income.

For further information see http://bit.ly/ztzBgG .

Practices need to seriously review doctor to nurse staffing arrangements in light of these budget

cuts and increased wage demands if successful.

What should you do now?

Contact us for more information to fight these unsustainable claims and do the following before by mid February 2012:

A. Process you must notify the ANF Union You must apply to the ANF for your practice to be taken off the named practices list to avoid

any further Tribunal hearings. They will expect you to provide written proof that you are

meeting at least the Award requirements e.g. a signed Award compliant employment

contract with your employees. This is called a Individual Flexible Agreement (“IFA”). You can

purchase templates from us. If you need assistance, see below. There are still no guarantees

they will take you off this list for the reasons covered as reported in our last news alert

edition Nursing Update 1 no. 187 see http://bit.ly/n9c3oM , however at least you will have

a provable defence.

B. Enterprise Agreements v Individual Flexible Agreement (“IFA”)

In simple terms, a practice can either have and enterprise agreement that may or may not need Union involvement; an Individual Flexible Agreement (“IFA”). An enterprise agreement restricts the ability to reward workers that perform better because it standardises remuneration and the process of amending an agreement is further complicated if outside agencies such as employer Associations or employee Unions are involved. To the contrary a more expedient, cheaper and popular alternative is using an Individual Flexible Agreement (“IFA”).

An IFA involves an employer and employee agreeing directly, without duress regarding what the terms and conditions of and individual’s employment will be. The IFA must meet the minimum National Employment Standards and Award entitlements as are currently prescribed. We have developed extremely cost effective and comprehensive templates with job descriptions you can purchase see our “employment kit” offer http://bit.ly/ixOZV2. There is no need to have third party organisations involved from employee unions, employers unions or even us. Most clients have been able to prepare them themselves. We have been selling these without any problems since 1st July 2010 when all practices should have had one in place.

C. Union starting to back down? Despite the Unions misgivings, it is great they acknowledged at the Tribunal conference the cheaper and less invasive alternative to enterprise bargaining called Individual Flexibility Agreements (IFA). The Government has published a Best Practice Guide to Individual Flexibility Agreements see http://bit.ly/vnbPQk. This is to reassure practices and employees despite the ANF’s warnings this is a legitimate and simpler alternative to having an expensive external party such as an employer association or employee union enterprise bargaining.

As detailed below practices can purchase template contracts that include job descriptions and instructions on Award specific issues from our news alert series.

D. Expression of Interest – no fee or obligation

Please register your interest in Health and Life representing your practice. This applies to existing clients that we have not written to stating that we have checked your agreements. We are more then happy to have an initial review free of charge, however for a detailed review – hourly standard rates apply if there is a problem you need us to fix. There are no fees or lock in’s with this expression of interest until we get your written consent, we want to represent a no enterprise bargaining required submission to Fair Work Australia.

If you would like us to act as representatives for your practice please complete and return to us a Form F53. This document is available at www.fwa.gov.au – we do not charge a fee to represent your practice at the Tribunal which is schedule to be a 4 day hearing in June 2012 as long as we have the Form 53. Clients that have purchased our kits and we have had an opportunity to briefly check your compliance is correct will not be charged for this representation. Anyone seeking our representation must complete the surveys below.

The employer and your practice staff need to complete this confidential survey: Employer ‐ http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pracemployer Employee ‐ http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pracnurse This will also highlight any potential problems you may have, which we can draw to your attention. Please let other practices know about this complimentary service.

The information will be de‐identified and made confidential to make submissions to the Tribunal if industry representation is required. We will not be encouraging your practice to enter into enterprise bargaining arrangements.

E. What Should You Do Next?

1. Review all your signed nursing and non‐nursing employment agreements for Award

compliance. Review the Governments Individual Flexibility rules http://bit.ly/vnbPQk as an alternative to enterprise bargaining.

2. Complete our nurse and employer practice survey to lodge a no obligation of

expression of interest for Health and Life to represent your practice.

Employer ‐ http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pracemployer Employee ‐ http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/pracnurse

3. Confidentially email us at [email protected] if you have concerns about

your agreements, email them to us there is no obligation. Please note, initial review free of charge, however for a detailed review – hourly standard rates apply.

4. Consider purchasing our Employment Kit see http://bit.ly/ixOZV2 that provides template employment agreements that are Award friendly with appropriate job descriptions for nurses, practice managers, receptions staff and employee doctors– this can significantly help you quickly complete and Individual Flexibility Agreement.

5. If you are a client of Health and Life please contact us to receive written feedback on your current agreements to ensure they have been prepared correctly.

6. Pass this Best Practice News Alert to you colleagues whether employers or employees. We feel that it is in everyone’s best interest to share this news alert with you staff.

2. NT, NSW & QLD February to March 2012 Seminar and One to One Meetings

Below is a summary of dates for our seminars across Australia. See Google Maps for our itinerary so far http://bit.ly/lc8pQm. There is an opportunity to meet with us face to face for a no-obligation discussion of any practice issues you may have at each seminar or by personal appointment. Email us at [email protected] to pre-book an appointment.

If you would like your local medical organisation to host a seminar, forward them this email with our seminar details and copy us at [email protected]. We will contact them directly about presenting in your local area.

We thank you in advance for your interest and support. You would be surprised how it only takes one person to make things happen!

New confirmed programs are detailed below.

Please contact the organisations directly for details about the course program, content and costs. It is free to Medicare Locals and Associations if it is part of the program detailed below. Please email your expression of interest to us or email your local association and we can do a presentation at no cost to them.

Host and Location Date Contact Name Contact Email Topics

Darwin city and

regional

‐ Casuarina

‐ Katherine

7th

February,

2012 to 11th

February,

2012

Ashley Moore [email protected] *One on one meetings

Contact us if you would like a complimentary meeting

NSW city and regional

Sydney

Woolongong

Yagoona

Armidale

Coffs Harbour

Lismore

19th March,

2012 to

24th March

2012

Ashley Moore [email protected] *One of one

meetings

Contact us if you

would like a

complimentary

meeting

Note a couple of spots left strictly first in first serve.

QLD city and regional

‐ Jimboomba

‐ South Brisbane

‐ Wynnum

25th March,

2012 to 29th

March,

2012

Ashley Moore [email protected] *One on one meetings

Contact us if you would like a complimentary

meeting

Note a couple of spots left strictly first in first serve.

*So you are looking for that competitive advantage – why not catch up with David Dahm and the Team. See below.

3. Catching up with David Dahm and the Team

We can talk about succession planning, business structures, effective tax planning, employee vs contractor agreements, benchmarking and many more topics.

We are using this time to catch up with existing clients. If you are not an existing client, this may be a good opportunity to tell us what is on your mind.

Ask yourself the following questions:

What new challenges am I facing? What new opportunities do I anticipate? What kind of support or expertise would be most helpful to me now? What changes do I anticipate over the next year or so? What more can Health and Life do for you, if anything?

We are planning trips and one to one to meetings as detailed above. Please note that this is on a first come first serve basis.

In the meantime, please feel free to contact us to arrange a no obligation teleconference to get you

started on any significant issues. Email us at [email protected]


1. Consult your professional adviser in relation to any advice suggested;

2. If you require any back issues of our news alerts please email us;

3. If you are not sure about any issues raised in this broadcast, contact David Dahm on 1800 077 222 for an initial no obligation consult or email us at [email protected]. Health and Life provides comprehensive Practice consulting, accounting, taxation and financial planning advice for group Practices and individuals. Email us for information about our Employment Template kits for providers and support staff and our Doctors pay Calculator.


3. Consult your professional adviser in relation to any advice suggested;

4. If you require any back issues of our news alerts please email us;

3. If you are not sure about any issues raised in this broadcast, contact David Dahm on 1800 077 222 for an initial no obligation consult or email us at [email protected]. Health and Life provides comprehensive Practice consulting, accounting, taxation and financial planning advice for group Practices and individuals. Email us for information about our Employment Template kits for providers and support staff and our Doctors pay Calculator.

Which topics would you like to be covered?

If there is a particular topic that you would like covered in one of our future News Alerts, please email

[email protected] and let us know what it is. We will then endeavour to cover your requested

topic.

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Nurse Payslip Audit and Scrapped Nursing Item No.s

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