Welcome Synapse Network,
May has already arrived, and 2026 is shaping up to be another significant year for Synapse. We’re pleased to share a snapshot of our first quarter.
We’ve seen a steady stream of 5-star Google reviews, my book has reached bestseller status and MBS Answers is now attracting strong corporate interest.
We are currently delivering two major payment integrity projects – one government and one non-government – with further opportunities anticipated as the year progresses. At the same time, new hospitals are coming onboard for our clinical coding and accommodation billing services, and we are finalising our new AIMAC short courses on Medical Billing Law and the Codes of Conduct.
I’m also proud to share that almost half of the Synapse team are now 10-year veterans. This level of retention is exceptional in any industry and reflects the strength, expertise and stability of our team.
Happy reading!
In this issue
 Your patients love us |  How to Avoid the Medical Bill Rip Off! |  Payment integrity projects |  Aimac update |
Read on for these articles and more…
Your patients love us!
It’s official, your patients love us. We’ve received a stream of unprompted 5-star Google reviews from you – and your patients. Alex manages many of our IFCs for anaesthetists. Take a look. They speak for themselves. Alex, and our entire customer service team, are the opposite of the stereotypical “dragon at the reception desk.” They take the time to listen, communicate thoughtfully and genuinely care about the outcome. In some cases, that has meant working with doctors to reduce or even waive fees for patients who simply could not afford them. That’s what patient-centred care looks and sounds like. Thank you, Alex. And thank you to our entire CS team.
“I have to post again to say how good these guys are. They chase down every loose end and follow up every payment, working away quietly in the background, and check every month that I’m happy and if there is anything else they can do. I’d be lost without them. Thanks, especially to Salma!” JULIAN KEATS
“I joined Synapse recently and am very impressed with their service. They helped me set-up quickly and are very responsive with troubleshooting requests such as rejected billing. Saves me lots of time and I am very happy with the service so far.” DOV DEGEN
“Alex at Synapse Medical Services was very helpful as the gap payment for my medical procedure was out of my reach at this time. After speaking with Alex the gap fee was waived. I am really grateful for this as I can now go ahead with the very important medical procedure. Thank you Alex.” JENNIFER PROCTER
“A big thank you for the consideration, Dr Gomez showed with an upcoming anesthetic gap cost. Having the cost waivered lessened the anxiety and financial burden, during a time that is already stressful, when dealing with health issues. The contact from Alexander has been amazing again thank you for the support and empathy shown to my husband and myself.” THERESE KING
“Alexander Jeremiah was absolutely fantastic to deal with. I had an issue with my private health insurance where they refused to cover my surgery 3 days prior to it. I had to make the decision to pay it out of pocket and Alex helped me navigate the full costs of the situation. He took it upon himself to speak with my specialist, who was aware of the situation and together they agreed to drop the value of the payment and help alleviate some stress. They also gave me some other pay options to help me out, but I was thankful enough that I had the final amount ready to pay. I cannot thank Alex enough for his understanding, patience and compassion with my situation and I wish him all the very best and hope he can help out many other people in similar situations.” SHANA MITCHELL
MBS Answers: trusted because it’s right
It’s been fantastic to receive such strong feedback from our loyal and growing subscriber base. MBS Answers has already covered a wide range of critical issues in Australian medical billing, and we greatly value the excellent questions coming in each week. We’re also proud to have now published over 200 answers.
Importantly, the platform is attracting corporate interest from organisations looking to support and scale access to legally correct Medicare guidance across the sector. This growing interest reflects a broader recognition that getting billing right matters and that there is a real appetite for clarity grounded in law.
If you’re a clinician in Australia with billing questions, consider subscribing to MBS Answers and sending them in. All answers are written by me and fellow Medicare law expert Bruce Topperwien and are grounded in current legislation and case law. We stand firmly behind the accuracy and defensibility of every answer.
How To Avoid The Medical Bill Rip Off!
Another update following the release of my book. The response has been incredible. Readers have found it genuinely helpful and easy to understand. I’m proud to share that the book is a bestseller. It’s selling strongly both on Amazon and through other platforms but also through the shop-local option on my website – thank you to everyone who has chosen this path and supported a local book printer.
Receiving messages from readers who have used the knowledge in the book to save time and money when accessing healthcare has been especially rewarding. From the outset, my goal was simple: to make medical bills clear and understandable for anyone, and to equip people with practical tools to avoid unnecessary costs while ensuring they receive every entitlement they are legally due.
I’ve also started running library events, which has been a fantastic way to connect at a true grassroots level with healthcare consumers – effectively, everyone. These sessions have been incredibly rewarding, giving people a chance to ask questions, bring real examples and walk away better equipped to navigate the system.
I also had the pleasure of recording 3 episodes for the RegardingMe podcast with the amazing Luan Lawrenson-Woods. We talked all things Medicare and medical bills. You can listen here.
We know you want your patients to understand their medical bills so why not recommend the book to them? Some doctors have told us they now keep a copy on their reception desk – wow! You can buy it here.
And at the end of February, after many requests, the book was also released as an eBook to make it even more accessible and there’s additional platforms coming soon.
Payment Integrity Projects
In the first quarter of 2026, we were engaged on two major payment integrity projects focused on fraudulent billing. These were substantial, high-stakes engagements involving large-scale data analysis, detailed review of billing patterns and the delivery of comprehensive expert reports with clear, actionable recommendations.
We approach this work with a strong sense of responsibility. Fraudulent billing is not a victimless crime. In a system with finite resources, every dollar lost to unlawful or inappropriate claims is a dollar that cannot be directed to patient care. We know this matters deeply to our clinical clients, who are working every day to deliver the best possible care within those constraints.
It is encouraging to see leading organisations recognising this risk and seeking independent, expert advice early, before issues escalate. That shift toward proactive engagement is critical to protecting both patients and the integrity of the system.
Alongside this work, I have also acted for some time as an independent expert in a Medicare fraud matter. My evidence contributed to the matter being brought to a proper and timely resolution, an outcome that underscores the importance of applying the law to the facts with clarity and precision.
Without Clinical Coding and Billing, Hospitals Don’t Survive
It’s that simple. Hospitals rely on timely, accurate coding and billing to function. Every service delivered must be properly recorded and lawfully billed so that revenue flows, staff are paid, and care can continue. We make sure this happens – quickly and correctly.
New hospitals are continuing to come onboard – a trend we are both proud of and deeply committed to supporting. Timely, accurate clinical coding and hospital billing are not administrative afterthoughts; they are the financial lifeblood of a hospital. When these functions are delayed, even for a few days, cash flow suffers and operational pressure builds quickly.
Our focus is simple: get it right, and get it done on time. By applying rigorous coding standards and disciplined billing processes, we ensure hospitals are paid lawfully and promptly.
In several cases, we have stepped into environments where billing dysfunction was placing real strain on the organisation. We have helped turn around hospitals that were, quite frankly, struggling to stay afloat. With the revenue cycle stabilised, everything else becomes possible, most importantly, investment in staff, services, and better patient care.
Aimac
We are now so close to launching our newly revamped Aimac website. There will be a clearer structure, easier navigation and more practical resources to support clinicians and organisations navigating billing and compliance.
We’ve been in conversation with relevant stakeholders who love what we’re doing and are particularly keen for the launch of our new short courses. These densely packed, quiz-based courses focus on the application of relevant laws and real-world takeaways around medical billing law and the codes of conduct.
Based on early feedback, we think these courses are going to greatly benefit the clinicians who take them. We can’t wait to launch!
Achievements From the Team
At the start of this update, I mentioned the stream of 5-star Google reviews we’ve been receiving. Those reviews don’t happen by accident, they are a direct reflection of the people behind Synapse.
I’m proud to share that almost half of our team are now 10-year veterans. That level of retention is exceptional in any industry and speaks to the strength, depth of expertise, and stability of our workforce. It means our clients are supported by people who not only understand the system but bring deep institutional knowledge and a level of precision that only comes with experience.
That same capability is reflected in what the team has delivered this quarter:
- Over 70 new clients have subscribed to our Synapps MBS Billing App, with the vast majority of clinicians converting from the free trial to full service.
- Our medical billing rejection rate remains below 1%, compared to industry rates of 20–30% for complex specialist billing. This is a direct result of our rules engine, which applies Medicare requirements at scale, stopping incorrect claims at the start.
These outcomes speak for themselves. They reflect a team that is stable, technically excellent and deeply committed to doing things properly – every time.
That’s a wrap. We’re looking forward to what the rest of 2026 will bring, with major software integrations and new developments already underway. Watch this space.
Thank you, as always, to our clients for your continued support.
As winter approaches, take care and stay warm.
From Margaret and the Synapse team
enquiries@synapsemedical.com.au
