Bulk-billing GPs accused of Medicare breach by also charging patients

[Prancer]

3 hours ago, purpleduck said:

For those who have difficulty getting in to see drs, are you urban/regional etc? Do you think the socioeconomics of the suburb impacts on the availability? I'm just curious as I can understand shortages in regional areas, but in the city, I would think there would be more options? Although they might be more expensive options...

I live about 10 minutes away from a capital city!  I just checked our app.  The doctor I am on the books for has an appointment for 17/9.  The only doctor taking new patients is available on the 23/9.  So if there is something urgent I believe there may be a doctor in the city that has availability pretty quick but does not bulk bill.  Or there is an urgent care clinic if we fit the criteria for that.  

[VictorineTheCatLover]

The clinic we go to bulk bills those with and on a HCC. The particular Dr we see is very good, constantly fully booked and isn't taking new patients. She works from home one day a week so that is the day she does regular scripts for her patients etc. I can get a non urgent appointment around my days off within 10 days or so. Anything urgent, or that requires a med certificate, I either book with another Dr(because they're all good) or I use Instant Scripts.

 

[Tinsel]

In our 35 years attending BB clinics in our suburb in Sydney, we've never had problems being seen.  We usually book to see our preferred GPs, even now it would not be unusual to book online for a same day appt or an appt the next day.  The clinic also has walk-in patients who will be seen by the first available GP (so there may be some waiting) , but most patients have made appts.  Lower socio-economic area.  The clinic doesn't have a high turnover of GPs - our previous GP at the clinic saw all three of us for 20 years before retiring, and my current GP has been at the clinic for almost the same length of time as has DH's GP. 

[Meepy]

You are very fortunate.  I have been going to the same clinic for 20 years and during that time it has changed from a small oop fee with kids being bulk billed to $45 oop for a short appointment for everyone.  It is also much harder to get an appointment.  
There are heaps of doctors around here but it is very difficult to get appointments next day and even harder to get bulk billed.

[qak]

There's clinics up on the Gold Coast charging $1000+ to go on their books, and from memory that's supposed to cover the appointments as well.

Edit - oh they found a way around it - charge heaps for the first appointment, then bulk bill.

 

Edited September 6 by qak

[purpleduck]

40 minutes ago, qak said:

There's clinics up on the Gold Coast charging $1000+ to go on their books, and from memory that's supposed to cover the appointments as well.

Edit - oh they found a way around it - charge heaps for the first appointment, then bulk bill.

 

I’d hate to have to do the sums on that one. Considering how hard it is for most people to try and figure out if extras cover is worth it, can you imagine trying to calculate if these plans are worth it? At first glance I can only find a “low” plan price of $69/mth and a request to call them for more plan information

Not sure how well they are doing, the online booking function is redirecting to making a phone call instead. 

[Kiwi Bicycle]

Metro Melbourne and there's 2 clinics nearby that have " bulk bill" signage, but who knows if it's all doctors at that practise. When I first came to Australia,  my doctor bulk billed, but he was 3 years off retirement, so obviously didn't require a huge salary.

Everywhere else is high OOP.

Are people using the Doctor at Home services after hours? I did when DS had an ear infection on a Sunday and he and I just sat at home until the doctor came. I would resort to that if I couldn't get an appointment. At least they come to you even if it's expensive.

[qak]

2 hours ago, purpleduck said:

imagine trying to calculate if these plans are worth it?

I know someone who paid $1500 earlier this year, I don't know if it was to this group. He thought it was worth it for the general accessibility to a GP (not sure if other specialties as well?) - he's also fairly 'comfortable' financially AFAIK.

[BoyMum2]

11 hours ago, VeritasVinumArte said:

@BoyMum2 you can register as a family and the family threshold is around $2.5k. I have my DH, Uni Student DS19, DS17 and DD15 registered as a family. We are across 2-3 cards but registered as a family. I have to reconfirm th family registration each year as we get close to the threshold. This year we hit the threshold before the end if the first quarter. I am telling the family that this is the year to see specialists if needed and not to put it off until next year. So DS19s late trip to GP (ear infection) was $107 on card but $94.85 back from medicare.

How do you do this?

We’re all on the same card. 

 I got on the Medicare site to check but I can’t see where to register as a family. It does say I need to confirm my family but that doesn’t make sense either.

[Kiwi Bicycle]

1 minute ago, BoyMum2 said:

How do you do this?

We’re all on the same card. 

 I got on the Medicare site to check but I can’t see where to register as a family. It does say I need to confirm my family but that doesn’t make sense either.

You don't do anything, you are already a family on the same card.

You automatically get a letter when you are going to reach the threshold to confirm. After you go over, you automatically go up to the higher level rebate.

[Prancer]

I got an activity on my Medicare on my gov that asked me to co form my family.  They ask you to do this when you start getting close to the threshold.

[Paddlepop]

30 minutes ago, BoyMum2 said:

How do you do this?

We’re all on the same card. 

 I got on the Medicare site to check but I can’t see where to register as a family. It does say I need to confirm my family but that doesn’t make sense either.

If it’s asking you to confirm then you’ve nearly reached or have already reached the Safety Net, so go ahead and do it. Here’s a guide to it:

https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-online-account-help-confirm-your-medicare-safety-net-family

[BornToLove]

12 hours ago, Kiwi Bicycle said:

.Are people using the Doctor at Home services after hours? I did when DS had an ear infection on a Sunday and he and I just sat at home until the doctor came. I would resort to that if I couldn't get an appointment. At least they come to you even if it's expensive.

We used it once when DD also had an ear infection a few years ago and it was really great. Much better than taking a sick kid to a clinic. 

Our GP clinic has some same day appointments (though not always with your doctor), at most I think I’ve had to wait a week to see the GP to get my preferred appointment time. Not all available appointments are in the app, I always call to book.