Healthcare and allied health practices face a specific set of financial challenges that general bookkeepers are often not equipped to handle. Medicare reconciliation, practitioner payroll, trust account management, and the complexity of mixed-billing environments all require someone who understands how practices are structured financially, not just someone who can process transactions.
At East Coast BBS, we work with healthcare and allied health clients across the Shoalhaven, Illawarra, and South Coast. From GP practices to physiotherapy clinics, we understand how medical and allied health businesses operate, and we make sure the financial side of your practice runs as smoothly as your patient care.
If your practice is in Nowra, Wollongong, Ulladulla, or anywhere across the region, we are set up to support you in person or remotely.
What we do
Medicare and DVA reconciliation
We reconcile Medicare and DVA receipts against your billing records, ensuring your practice income is accurately accounted for and any discrepancies are identified and resolved promptly.
Practitioner payroll
We manage payroll for all practice staff, including employed practitioners, associates, and administrative teams. Where practitioners are engaged as contractors, we ensure the arrangement is correctly structured for ATO compliance.
BAS preparation and lodgement
As registered BAS agents, we prepare and lodge your Business Activity Statements accurately and on time, including GST treatment of health services where applicable. We receive a four-week extension on lodgements and payments.
Bank reconciliation and financial reporting
We keep your practice accounts accurate and reconciled, and prepare financial reports that give practice owners a clear understanding of revenue, expenses, and profitability.
Management reporting for practice owners
We provide regular management reports tailored to the healthcare practice environment, covering key performance metrics, billing performance, and financial benchmarks to support informed decision-making.
Cash flow and budgeting support
From managing the timing of Medicare receipts to planning for equipment investments or premises costs, we help practice owners stay ahead of their cash position rather than reacting to it.
Software setup and training
We set up and configure Xero or MYOB for healthcare practices, including integration with practice management software where possible, so your financial records are always current.
Who this is for
- GP practices and medical centres
- Allied health providers including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, psychology, speech pathology, and dietetics
- Dental and specialist practices
- Solo practitioners and small group practices
- Practice managers looking for specialist financial support
- Healthcare businesses across the Shoalhaven, Wollongong, Illawarra, and South Coast NSW
Why choose East Coast BBS
- Experience across both medical and allied health practice environments
- Clear understanding of Medicare and DVA reconciliation processes
- Registered BAS agents ensuring accurate GST treatment of health services
- Plain-language financial reporting that practice owners can actually understand and use
- Confidentiality and discretion as standard across all client work
- Based in South Nowra, serving healthcare clients across the region and remotely
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you understand how Medicare and DVA payments work?
Yes. Medicare and DVA reconciliation is a specific area of expertise for us. We understand how bulk billing receipts, DVA payments, and gap payment income need to be recorded and reconciled against your billing system, and we manage that process accurately so your practice income is always correctly reflected in your accounts.
Some of our practitioners are engaged as contractors rather than employees. How does that affect payroll?
Contractor versus employee classification is an important distinction with real compliance implications, particularly following recent ATO and Fair Work rulings. We review how your practitioners are engaged and ensure the financial treatment is correct, including superannuation obligations, PAYG withholding, and the appropriate reporting to the ATO. If the current arrangement needs adjusting, we will flag it clearly and help you navigate the change.
We are not based in Nowra. Can you work with us remotely?
Absolutely. We work with healthcare and allied health clients across the Shoalhaven, Wollongong, Illawarra, and beyond. Most of our work is done through cloud accounting software, so your location is not a barrier. We are comfortable working entirely remotely or with occasional in-person visits depending on what suits you.
What accounting software do you recommend for allied health practices?
For most allied health practices, we recommend Xero. It integrates well with the major practice management systems, has strong reporting capabilities, and works effectively for practices of any size. For some practices, MYOB may be a better fit depending on the systems already in place. We will always assess your situation before making a recommendation, and we handle the setup and configuration so it is done correctly from day one.
