14. Health Funds

Eligibility Criteria - qualifications required per Health Fund

(Areas with ✔ are the eligible membership levels for each fund)

In addition to the above specific criteria all AHM, ARHG, Bupa, HCF and Medibank applicants must hold:

• Current professional indemnity ($2M coverage) & public liability insurance ($20M coverage). If you have questions about your policy, please contact your insurer.
• Current senior first aid certificate (must be nationally recognised training with code HLTAID003/HLTAID011)
• Current cpr certificate (must be nationally recognised training with code HLTAID009)

How to apply

Application Process

Private health fund applications are lodged online through your ACA profile

Link: https://www.theaca.net.au/my-account

• Once logged in, on the left-hand side of the Account Summary page you will find the online application form.
• You can upload your CPR, First Aid and Insurance through your ACA Profile on the 'My Account' page - on the left, 'Upload Your Documents'.

Addresses

When applying please note:

• You cannot apply for an address that is a PO Box – all addresses must be street addresses. An application for a PO Box will be automatically rejected.

• An application with an address that is labelled telehealth/online only will be automatically rejected. If you provide services solely online /phone – you must use the address from where you provide that service. This address will be listed on the client’s invoice.

• Your address may be visible on some health fund provider search functions. If you do not wish for your address to be visible – please advise us when applying.

I work from multiple addresses – what do I need to do?

• Most health funds require provider numbers that are linked to the address you provide services from, not to the individual counsellor/psychotherapist. If you work from multiple addresses, you must put an application in for each address. Some health funds limit the amount of provider numbers a counsellor/psychotherapist can hold to four (4) provider numbers per fund.
• If you work from more than 4 locations, you will not be able to hold a provider number for all locations. This includes a home address if you provide telehealth/online counselling services from your home.

Changing Addresses – What do I need to do?

• If you change a practice address or apply for an additional location, you must complete a new online application form for each practice address. You must notify us when you leave a practice address so the provider number can be closed for the funds.

First Aid Training

What first aid training do I need?

• Health funds require providers to hold a current senior first aid training certificate.
• The nationally recognised training code is HLTAID003 (for certificates up to end of 2020) or HLTAID011 (from end of 2020 to present).

Do I need to have an up-to-date CPR?

• Yes, you must maintain a current cpr certificate to apply and continue to hold a provider number.
• The current nationally recognised training code is HLTAID009. If you completed your CPR when you completed your First Aid training and you are unsure whether your CPR remains current, please contact your training provider as to whether you need to refresh your certificate.

I don’t see clients face to face; do I really need a First Aid certificate?

• Yes. While you may not see clients face to face, there is an expectation that if you are having a session with a client over a digital method, that you will be able to give basic first aid assistance.
• It is a requirement of the private health funds that you hold a current First Aid certificate at all times while being a provider.

Maintaining your Provider Number

If I don’t renew my membership by the due date what happens?

As it is a requirement to keep your membership current to receive the membership benefits, if you do not renew your membership by its due date your provider numbers will be cancelled. Private health funds hold absolute discretion in whether to accept an application from a member who has failed to meet their ongoing obligations if they reapply for a provider number.

Do I have to keep my First Aid and CPR certificate current?

In order to maintain your provider numbers, you must hold a current First Aid and CPR certificate. If your certificate expires on file and you have not provided us with the new certificate your provider numbers will be closed.

Do I need to meet my OPD and Supervision requirements to continue to hold my provider number?

All members who hold provider numbers must meet their annual OPD and Supervision requirements in order to continue holding their provider numbers.

Do I have to keep my membership with ACA current to continue to hold my provider number/s?

As it is a requirement to keep your membership current to receive the membership benefits, if you do not renew your membership by its due date your provider numbers will be cancelled.