O​ne-off payment principles – Visiting Medical Officers

  • NSW Health Visiting Medical Officers (VMOs) are eligible for the one-off payment recently announced by the NSW Government- subject to meeting eligibility criteria.
  • To be eligible, VMOs must have an active VMO contract on 1 July 2022.
  • Eligible VMOs will receive:
    • One total payment calculated on the invoiced activity during the 2021- 22 Financial Year, up to a maximum of $3,000.
    • To receive the full amount, invoiced activity must be equal to or greater than the equivalent of 2080 hours at the GP sessional rate (5 years’ experience) including background practice costs. This applies to both sessional and fee-for-service VMOs (invoiced up to the equivalent of the above).
    • Where a VMO is ineligible to receive the full amount, the payment will be pro rata based on invoiced activity.
    • If the pro rata assessed amount based on invoiced activity is less than $300; the amount received will be $300 as a minimum payment.
    • All payments include superannuation where applicable and are subject to usual taxation requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Will I receive the one-off payment?

If you:

  • Are a VMO;
  • Invoiced activity during the 2021- 22 financial year; and
  • Have an active VMO contract on 1 July 2022

You are eligible to receive the payment.

How much will I receive?

If you invoiced activity during the 2021- 22 Financial Year; the amount received will range between $300 and $3,000 (including superannuation where applicable) and is subject to applicable taxation requirements.The payment of up to $3,000; subject to pro rata is based on the invoiced activity, during the 2021- 22 Financial Year.

Why has the GP sessional rate been chosen to determine quantum eligibility for all VMOs?

NSW Health has created a notional salary based on full time employment (2080 hours per year) so it can apply the same principles of payment which are being followed for all NSW Health employees. Selecting the GP VMO hourly rate to calculate the notional salary was deemed the most equitable approach.

I recently left my NSW Health appointment as a VMO after a long period of engagement and worked through the pandemic. Will I receive the payment?

You must have an active service contract on 1 July 2022 in order to be eligible to receive the payment.

I work for a third schedule facility/hospital, am I eligible?

 VMOs are eligible if:

  1. you are engaged by an organisation listed in Column 1 of Schedule 3 of the Health Services Act 1997 (NSW); and
  2. you work in a ‘recognised establishment’ or provide a ‘recognised service’ listed in Column 2 of Schedule 3 of the Health Services Act 1997 (NSW).

I have multiple VMO appointments across different Health agencies, how many payments can I expect?

Eligible VMOs will receive one total payment only (maximum of $3000; regardless of how many engagements you hold). Invoiced activity for all VMO appointments will be combined. 

What do I need to do to receive the payment?

In order to be paid; you must submit a vmoney claim for August 2022.

If you didn’t have any activity for August 2022- submit a NIL claim and HealthShare NSW will add one-off payment in the backend to process.The deadline for submission of August 2022 claims to receive the one off payment is 1 December 2022.

When can I expect to receive the payment?

This will be dependent on when you submit your August 2022 vmoney claim; but payments are anticipated to commence during pay runs in September 2022.

What account will it be paid into? Can I nominate a different account?

 Payment will be made to the account that your pay usually goes into; and you are unable to nominate an alternative account for the payment.

Will the payment be taxed?

Payments will be subject to any applicable taxation requirements; which for VMOs may include GST depending on engagement arrangements.

The payment will put me in a higher tax bracket, can I elect to have the payment broken up into smaller amounts?

Unfortunately not. The payment is a one-off lump sum payment.

Will the payment be added to my statement of earnings?

Yes, the one-off payment will be added to your statement of earnings.

Will the payment include Superannuation?

Superannuation is included in the $3000 payment; where applicable.

Current as at: Wednesday 27 July 2022
Contact page owner: NSW Health