Australian SLP Spark: speech pathologists must not engage in referral arrangements, secret commissions, kick-backs, or other dodgy practices

Why:

It’s unethical, unprofessional, and potentially illegal.

Zoom in: 

• As unregistered health practitioners, Australian speech-language pathologists (SLPs) must not:
  • accept financial inducements or gifts for referring clients to other health practitioners or to the suppliers of medications or therapeutic goods or devices; or 
  • offer financial inducements or gifts in return for client referrals from other health practitioners or health organisations.
• As NDIS providers, SLPs must not give, ask for, or accept gifts that impact – or may impact – the way they provide NDIS supports or services, including any referral arrangement with other providers.
• As members of Speech Pathology Australia, SLPs must abide by the Code of Ethics and must avoid conflicts of interest affecting client care, be transparent about financial dealings and provide client-centred care.  
• Criminal and other laws in some states also regulate secret commissions.

Go deeper: 

• State Codes of Conduct for Unregistered Health Professionals or Practitioners (e.g. section 8 of the NSW Code).
• NDIS Code of Conduct: Guidance for Providers – Paragraph 58.
• Speech Pathology Australia Code of Ethics, clause 2.3. 
• In the media: ‘It’s the Wild West’: Gift cards, free holidays and annual payments for NDIS referrals