MedicalDirector to manage automatic PRODA authentication for Medicare Web Services

27 September, 2021

MedicalDirector is pleased to announce it will be managing the entire Provider Digital Access (PRODA) authentication process for Medicare Web Services on behalf of MedicalDirector software users — removing the need for healthcare practices to undertake the manual authentication process themselves. Not all clinical and practice management software providers will be taking the same approach.

PRODA is the new online system that Medicare Web Services uses to verify each person’s identity and organisation. The PRODA authentication system is replacing the PKI system, and verifies users through the Australian Business Register.

To use Medicare Web Services, practices are required to register and manage individual and organisation-level accounts in PRODA, as well as renewing access every six months. However, clinical software providers have the option of managing this process through their web services compatible software.

To help practices reduce their administrative burden, MedicalDirector will be managing the entire PRODA authentication process through their software – with no action required by the practice at all.

The only requirement for practices that use MedicalDirector software is to ensure they have upgraded to web services compatible software once it is released, and prior to 13 March 2022, which is when the current Medicare system expires. For practices using MedicalDirector Helix, the Medicare Web Services update will occur automatically.

MedicalDirector Head of Product and Design, Marcus Holstein, described MedicalDirector’s automatic authentication process as a significant timesaver for software users.

“We’re focused on making things easier for practices, and we believe that managing the PRODA authentication process through the software will lead to a significant timesaving for all MedicalDirector software users. This will allow GPs and practice staff to spend more time with patients and less time on admin.”

About MedicalDirector

MedicalDirector is a leading primary healthcare technology company that for over 25 years has provided innovative, proprietary software solutions that help General Practice (GP) and specialist medical practices deliver care to their patients. Our software platform integrates seamlessly to enable faster and more collaborative workflows in medical practices and connectivity into the broader healthcare system.

Approximately 23,000 clinicians use MedicalDirector to manage and deliver 80+ million patient consultations per year, across small and large medical practices. Key software features include practice management, clinical health records, medical billing, reporting, referral management and patient engagement.

Today, MedicalDirector is a first-mover in innovative, cloud-based healthcare software through Helix, and in delivering customisable solutions for medical professionals in Australia and now in the United Kingdom. The comprehensive suite of solutions utilises the latest tools and technologies to simplify workflows and enable interoperability across healthcare systems. With MedicalDirector, medical practices can manage higher patient volumes, improving productivity and providing doctors the flexibility to deliver care anytime, anywhere on any device.