Bulk Billing

[Hoffy]

Where does it even exist?

Serious question. I've done a highly scientific poll of colleagues today and found that none go to, or know of, a bulk billing doctor.

The average fee paid for a GP consultation is $70, so a gap or "co-payment" is the norm in this sample and certainly that of my family and friends. I acknowledge that this is a skewed sample to high income earners, but it isn't exclusively so. Even the lowest paid, living in low socio-economic regions of Brisbane don't go to bulk billing Doctors.

 

[LoneWolf]

Where does it even exist?

Serious question. I've done a highly scientific poll of colleagues today and found that none go to, or know of, a bulk billing doctor.

The average fee paid for a GP consultation is $70, so a gap or "co-payment" is the norm in this sample and certainly that of my family and friends. I acknowledge that this is a skewed sample to high income earners, but it isn't exclusively so. Even the lowest paid, living in low socio-economic regions of Brisbane don't go to bulk billing Doctors.

There is actually a really good medical center nearby that is bulk billing, they offer full service including xrays, dental etc... obviously not all services are bulk billed, but most are

 

[joanmc]

All the doctors around here are bulk billing. Very low income/welfare demographic here though.

 

[beachgurl]

The surgery we go to bulk bills. The majority around here do so and the ones that don't, either bulk bill for kids only or have a specific doctor on their books that will do bulk bill appointments.

When I worked in the city I went to a bulk bill doctor there too.

 

[Nemo30]

There is a large medical centre near us that bulk bills. However, it is a drop in centre where you cant make an appointment and you get a random doctor. You generally have around a 2hr wait, sometimes more.

I prefer to go to another practice where I can make an appointment and see the same dr each time. This costs around $70 a visit which I'm happy to pay. I dont know of any of these type of medical practices around here that bulk bills.

 

[Scott No Mates]

Most of the surgeries around us are full fee. Processing your medicare claim on the spot and take the rest from your credit card - so what's new? Most will bulk bill the under 5's or repeat visits.

If you want five minute medicine then there's a practice in Chatswood which does xrays, physio, dental etc which bulk bills and leave the waiting rooms in the other surgeries vacant or by appointment only for us plebs.

 

[moyjos]

Yep plenty of bulk billing here on the Sunshine Coast too.

 

[dan c]

Where does it even exist?

Serious question. I've done a highly scientific poll of colleagues today and found that none go to, or know of, a bulk billing doctor.

It's a good question. The last time I went to the doctor it cost me $60, including a flu shot.

I took my 6 month old son to the doctor because he needed a new referral to a specialist (don't get me started on referral letters) and that was bulk billed.

Apparently this particular clinic bulk bill children under a certain age. That's the only time I've not paid at the doctor, ever.

 

[allsuccess]

Medical Centre (outer east - victoria) we go to does bulk billing

 

[whiteduck]

About 80% of all GP visits are currently bulk billed .

Just so you don't think I'm making it up I checked:
Source: Dept of Health : ABS figures from March quarter 2014.
Actually its 82.3%

 

[DEC]

http://www.doctors-4u.com/brisbane/b_bill.htm

 

[Hoffy]

About 80% of all GP visits are currently bulk billed .

Just so you don't think I'm making it up I checked:
Source: Dept of Health : ABS figures from March quarter 2014.
Actually its 82.3%

Thanks whiteduck. My workplace must be more skewed than I thought.

 

[Hoffy]

http://www.doctors-4u.com/brisbane/b_bill.htm

Thanks DEC, a handy ready reckoner of Drs to avoid.

 

[Mooze]

I don't think there's any in our area that don't bulk bill - but we're regional, very high proportion of seniors and under 18s.

When we lived in Canberra and Brisbane I don't think we ever saw Dr's that bulk billed.

 

[wylie]

I don't think there's any in our area that don't bulk bill - but we're regional, very high proportion of seniors and under 18s.

When we lived in Canberra and Brisbane I don't think we ever saw Dr's that bulk billed.

I reckon it must be ten years since our local medical practice at Carina ceased bulk billing. Sometime after that it closed. We moved doctors, and I did look for another bulk billing doctor, but couldn't find one anywhere local.

 

[gottabespotless]

I don't know of any Doctors in my area (regional) who bulk bill. I pay $65to see the Doctor - same for my children. I have also asked family and friends if they know of any Doctors who bulk bill around here and they say they don't . Perhaps they are out there somewhere but I don't know where...

With the $7 co contribution being introduced, will that mean that my $65 Doc visit will go up to $72? Apologies if the answer to this is common knowledge but haven't had a chance to read-up on the budget info today.

 

[wylie]

With the $7 co contribution being introduced, will that mean that my $65 Doc visit will go up to $72? Apologies if the answer to this is common knowledge but haven't had a chance to read-up on the budget info today.

I'm guessing that the co-payment will be for those who don't pay anything, i.e. those attending bulk billing doctors.

And from the figures earlier in this thread (I think) it seems 80% of doctors visits are bulk billed (unless I mis-read that). I just cannot help but wonder how much of the $7 co-payment will go towards administering the scheme.

 

[Strannik]

Where does it even exist?

Serious question. I've done a highly scientific poll of colleagues today and found that none go to, or know of, a bulk billing doctor.

The average fee paid for a GP consultation is $70, so a gap or "co-payment" is the norm in this sample and certainly that of my family and friends. I acknowledge that this is a skewed sample to high income earners, but it isn't exclusively so. Even the lowest paid, living in low socio-economic regions of Brisbane don't go to bulk billing Doctors.

There are plenty of places in Brissy that bulk bill

Couple of examples on the south side would be:

Buranda Medical centre
About 4 or 5 medical centres around Mt Gravatt shopping areas.

They are generally packed though, so if you need an urgent appointment - it may be hard to get, plus waiting times are usually in excess of half an hour.

 

[Angel]

With the $7 co contribution being introduced, will that mean that my $65 Doc visit will go up to $72? Apologies if the answer to this is common knowledge but haven't had a chance to read-up on the budget info today.

My $65 visit costs me about $29 after I get the Medicare rebate paid into my bank. So I assume the $7 will either be for those who do not pay anything out of pocket or the Medicare rebate will be $7 less than it currently is.

 

[weg]

My doctor bulk bills me and our youngest because I'm a health professional (for a long while I thought he bulk billed everyone).

Husband who recently started seeing him and oldest son pay $22 out of their pocket.

The only place around me that does bulk bill is a large clinic with a walk in service that does mainly international students and non Australians. Only the walk in service does bulk billing.

I have twice used this service in emergencies but as you can't book it's a bit hit and miss with who you get.

I actually raised my voice at one because he clearly didn't know what he was doing and very nearly injured my son through bad practice (overseas trained).

The other was excellent.

My mother's GP doesn't bulk bill either. Her out of pocket cost is $15.