Position statements

Private Psychiatrists of South Africa (PPSA) Statement on CPT4 Comments on CPT From Private Psychiatrists of SA

Private Psychiatrists of South Africa is of the opinion that the present coding system in the SAMA GTF is an adequate system for billing in our discipline. It can be shaped and improved but is in essence acceptable as it stands. The most problematic aspect of the GTF however is the present attitude of BHF towards the 014..-system for first consultations.

With this as the point of departure, we have come to the following position on the implementation of CPT:

1. We feel that the CPT would complicate our coding system to a level that is unacceptable.
2. Implementation of CPT will bring about more administration costs and time to the private psychiatrist.
3. We are concerned that CPT might reveal more confidential information about patients to medical aids/funders.
4. We do not trust the bona fides of BHF to accept and fund fully, the totality of CPT. The situation at present is that certain codes will be funded and others not. This fact makes the acceptability of a new system even lower.

The consensus of Private Psychiatrists in SA is that the CPT will introduce an unacceptable complexity and load to our administration, clinical practice and maintenance of ethics. DR IRVINE EIDELMAN
DR FRANCOIS DAUBENTON
DR RAY BERARD
Private Psychiatrists of South Africa.
These comments are endorsed and supported by the South African Society of Psychiatrists Private Practice Committee
Dr Franco Colin
Convenor: Private Practice Committee of SASOP