This part of section 16 (1) allows discretion to be applied to the amount being determined for payment.
While there are standard fee restrictions in place on PRACSYS to ensure too much can't be paid for a service, this phrase does provide the legislative support to pay less than what is being claimed.
In line with this, while Comcare does have regard to discounted fees where accounts are paid quickly (discounts will be indicated on the account), extra costs such as accounting fees and surcharges will not be met by compensation.
This is because accounting fees and surcharges do not constitute medical treatment.
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Has an amount been charged for an account, then the service provider has found that the condition of their patient is compensable and has raised the fee after the initial payment has been issued? |
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Has that extra cost then been paid? If so, why? |
This type of situation is not reasonable. Accounts for workers' compensation should be no more than the scale of fees accepted by Comcare as being reasonable for normal medical services.
Assess what the account is for. Hospital accounts in particular, may include costs associated with telephone calls and hire of television and video equipment, which are not medical treatment and cannot therefore be paid.
The bottom line is, if an account fee is not reasonable, don't pay it.