Services Australia uses two payment systems to handle Workforce Incentive Program (WIP) Doctor Stream payments:
- Central Payment System (CPS)
- Flexible Payment System (FPS).
Most doctors are paid automatically through the CPS.
Central Payment System
You do not need to apply to be paid through the CPS. Services Australia automatically calculates what is due to you based on your eligible MBS billing records in eligible locations.
Once you complete enough active quarters to qualify for a payment, Services Australia will send you a letter asking for your bank details so they can pay you.
You must provide your bank details within 60 calendar days of the date of the letter. If you do not, the payment will lapse and you will not receive it.
Read more about the CPS in the:
If Medicare billing does not capture all your eligible activity, you can apply for a top-up through the FPS.
Payment timing
We pay you after you complete a set number of active quarters. This varies according to your location’s Modified Monash Model classification.
|
Participant status |
MM classification |
Required number of active quarters |
Within this reference period |
|
New |
3 to 5 |
8 |
16 quarters (4 years) |
|
New |
6 to 7 |
4 |
8 quarters (2 years) |
|
Continuing |
3 to 7 |
4 |
8 quarters (2 years) |
Services Australia calculates eligible MBS services for the Doctor Stream at the end of each quarter. Services Australia bases CPS payments on the eligible services it has processed that quarter, regardless of the date of service.
After you receive your first payment, Services Australia will process further payments automatically and send you a payment advice. This happens after you record 4 more active quarters within an 8-quarter period. You do not need to do anything.
Flexible Payment System
You need to apply under the FPS if some or all of your activity is not reflected in MBS records. This happens if you:
- provide eligible non-MBS services
- undertake general practice (GP) training (under approved training pathways).
If you have received a payment under the CPS, you can apply for a ‘top-up’ payment under the FPS if:
- you fit into the alternative employment provisions and you have not billed the MBS for all eligible services, or
- you meet the eligibility requirements under the special top-up provisions.
See the latest version of the WIP Doctor Stream Guidelines for details of eligible services, alternative employment provisions and special top-up provisions.
When you apply through the FPS you must include all time spent providing eligible services, regardless of whether the services were MBS billed.
Send your FPS payment application to the Rural Workforce Agency (RWA) in the state or territory where you provided most services.
See applying under the FPS for details.
Resources
Workforce Incentive Program Guidelines – Doctor Stream
Flexible Payment System application form
