Private practice in the Queensland public sector

Directive number: QH-HSD-044

Effective date: 15 April 2024

Review Date: 15 April 2027

Supersedes: Version 3

On this page:

Purpose

To ensure private practice activities in the Queensland public health sector are sustainable, support patient choice and workforce retention.

Scope

This Health Service Directive applies to Hospital and Health Services.

Principles

  • Consistency: contracts and agreements regarding private practice in Queensland public health sector facilities are consistent
  • Efficiency and value: private practice is conducted in a way that supports overall service sustainability and best use of public resources
  • Managed: private practice is actively managed and monitored by Hospital and Health Services
  • Simplicity and transparency: obligations, performance criteria and fees for private practice are accessible, clear and consistent
  • Patient centred: private practice is conducted in a way that prioritises patients’ needs
  • Value for money: private practice is conducted in a way that is financially sustainable in the benefits it creates

Outcomes

Hospital and Health Services included in the scope of this directive shall achieve the following outcomes:

  • An established and documented governance framework for private practice in the Hospital and Health Service
  • Private practice arrangements at the Hospital and Health Service are documented and supported by a written contract or agreement between the health service and the practitioner/entity performing the service/s
  • Standardised fees are levied to clinicians engaging in private practice activities
  • Private practice enhances and supports the delivery of public practice
  • Patients are provided with the choice to be treated as a public or private patient in accordance with the National Healthcare Agreement 2013 (as amended from time to time).

Mandatory requirements

All Hospital and Health Services must:

  • Use the standard granted private practice agreement template (Senior Medical Officers) issued by the Department of Health, unless otherwise approved by the Director-General
  • Use the standard granted private practice schedule template (Visiting Medical Officers) issued by the Department of Health, unless otherwise approved by the Director-General
  • Ensure Licensed Private Practice arrangements are documented
  • Conduct performance reviews of private practice activities annually
  • Ensure fees are charged for private practice services in accordance with the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register
  • Comply with the Private Practice in the Queensland Public Health Sector Framework
  • Ensure all clinicians and support staff have access to training and education material appropriate to their roles and responsibilities regarding private practice
  • Establish a local private practice governance committee (or a committee with adequate terms of reference) to oversee the administration and sustainability of private practice arrangements operating within their service.
  • Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cwth)
  • Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (Qld)
  • Health Employment Directive No. 5/18 Visiting Medical Officers – Employment Framework (as amended from time to time)
  • Health Service Directive QH-HSD-045 Fees and Charges for Health Care Services
  • Addendum to National Health Reform Agreement 2020-2025 (as amended from time to time)
  • National Healthcare Agreement 2022 (as amended from time to time)

Supporting documents

  • Private practice in the Queensland public health sector framework
  • Private practice guidelines (QHEPS online resources)
  • Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register

Business area contact

Revenue Strategy and Support Unit, Finance Branch, Corporate Services Division, Department of Health

Review

This Health Service Directive will be reviewed at least every three years.

Date of last review: 31 October 2023

Supersedes: Version 3

Approval and implementation

Directive Custodian

Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services Division, Department of Health

Approval by Chief Executive

Director-General, Department of Health

Approval date: 15 April 2024

Issued under section 47 of the Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011

Human rights

Human rights are not engaged by this directive.

Definitions of terms used in this directive

TermDefinitionSource
Clinician

An individual who provides diagnosis, or treatment as a professional:

  1. medical practitioner
  2. nurse
  3. allied health practitioner; or,
  4. health practitioner not covered by paragraph a), b) or c) (National Health Reform Act 2011).
National Health Reform Act 2011
FeesFees outlined in the Queensland Health Fees and Charges Register.Health Service Directive # QH- HSD-045 – Fees and Charges for
Health Care Services
Private PracticeThe provision of professional services to a person who could receive treatment free of charge under the National Health Reform 2020-2025 Agreement  (as amended or replaced) but who has elected to be treated privately in the public system; or a person who agrees to be a fee-paying patient (including third party compensable private patients i.e. through motor vehicle insurance, workers’ compensation, Department of Veterans’ Affairs etc.) of the clinician and makes this election on the basis of informed financial consent.Private practice in the Queensland Public Health Sector Framework
Public sector
health service facility		A facility at which public sector health services are provided.Hospital and Health Boards Act 2011 (Qld)

Version control

VersionDate Prepared byComments
1.0 July 2014 Finance Branch New Health Service Directive
2.0 January 2016 Revenue Strategy & Support Unit, Finance Branch and HRS Branch

The following changes were made:

  • ‘Purpose’ section reworded.
  • ‘Principles’ section reworded to reflect the changes in the medical officer’s employment arrangements and additional principle added ‘Value for money’.
  • “Outcomes’ section reworded to reflect the changes in the medical officer’s employment arrangements and additional information added regarding patient choice.
  • ‘Mandatory requirements’ section reworded to reflect the changes in the medical officer’s employment arrangements and an additional requirement has been added around complying with the ‘Private Practice in the Queensland Public Health Sector Framework’ document.
  • ‘Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements’ section has been updated.
  • ‘Supporting documents’ section has been updated.
  • Directive’s Custodian has changed.
3.0 March 2020 Revenue Strategy & Support Unit, Finance Branch The following changes were made:
  • ‘Outcomes’ section, changed ‘Queensland public health sector’ to ‘Hospital and Health Service’ in the first dot point.
  • ‘Outcomes’ section, added the word ‘documented’ to the second dot point.
  • ‘Mandatory requirements’ section, added a requirement about ‘Licensed Private Practice arrangements’.
  • ‘Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements’ section has been updated with reference to HSD 045 – Fees and Charges for Health Care Services.
4.0October 2023Revenue Strategy & Support Unit, Finance Branch

The following changes were made:

  • Directive reformatted into the new health service directive template with minor rewording of sections to meet the new format.
  • ‘Related or governing legislation, policy and agreements’ section updated to reflect changes to document names.
  • ‘Supporting documents’ section updated to reflect changes to document names.  One document removed as a supporting document as it was no longer relevant.

Last updated: 15 April 2024