Hi.

I am not defending the APA position on this matter nor am i from Victoria.

However, I can understand why a lot of physios don't charge a gap fee (even though we should).

My practices don't charge a gap fee (even though I think we should). The reason why is silly in the end but when you first start out, all your patients are precious and you are trying to build a relationship with local doctors, who by law send you these patients (as opposed to the patients coming in off the street).

I have now got a very good reputation amongst the doctors that I don't have to worry about this. However i have not changed this method of charging as CTP - basically car accident patients - makes up <2% of my total patients.

If i were to change i would go to making the patient pay up front the normal private patient fee ($60 Initial and $50 Subsequent) - something I want to raise but haven't got the guts to do yet. I know the PBA/APA would like to see us raise our prices above the Worker's Compensation rate but it is so easy to keep things at the same rate. Ideally I believe that Physios should be worth over $120 per hour so $60 subsequent should be the go but it represents a 20% increase on my current price...