Got a Message from The Clinic That They Will Charge $30 from July 1

[Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 12:33
Last edited 03/06/2022 - 14:23 by 1 other user

Dear xxxxxx patients,

Starting 1 July 2022 we will be private billing patients for GP consultations.

This is due to substantial increase in cost for running the practice and constraints on our resources while Medicare rebate has barely increased in the past 10 years.

There will be an out of pocket fee of $30 for consults during regular business hours.

Kids 15 and under will be charged a discounted out of pocket fee.

Patients on concession cards will be bulk billed during regular business hours.

For patients with Medicare card, the rebate can be processed on the day.

Some consults including health assessments, care plans and immunisations can be bulk billed.

This is the message I got from the clinic I use for blood tests and sickie. I will stop going to the clinic, I don't get sick anyway. But what about people who get sick regular. Will they have to pay a fortune to save their life? Or at least now they have an incentive to get healthy. Is it case with all the clinics? If it is legal why aren't all the clinics not doing it?

Poll Options

  • 164
    Good to charge extra
  • 353
    It's a rip-off as we already pay for medicare
Health & Beauty

Comments

  • Mechz on 03/06/2022 - 12:34
    +41

    Why do you get blood tests if you don't get sick?

      • MS Paint on 03/06/2022 - 12:44
        +69

        WTF dude

          • MS Paint on 03/06/2022 - 12:47
            +86

            @[Deactivated]: So you get blood tests for the sake of it? Your local gp does not donate your blood. WTF are you on about?

              • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 12:54
                +36

                @[Deactivated]:

                Why don't you ask obese and sick people to flood clinics and hospitals instead of worrying about my once in 2 years of blood tests?

                Is this SlavOz's other account?

                  • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 12:58
                    +52

                    @[Deactivated]: Yep, defs SlavOz

                  • SF3 on 03/06/2022 - 23:59
                    +2

                    @[Deactivated]:

                    No there are other people who thinks rationally like SlavOz

                    Rationalise: attempt to explain or justify (behaviour or an attitude) with logical reasons, even if these are not appropriate.

              • Xistn on 03/06/2022 - 13:52
                +7

                @[Deactivated]: Vampire here, thanks for the taste testers.. 3.5/5 stars

              • chriise on 05/06/2022 - 20:35

                @[Deactivated]: Honest question; do you just call the clinic up and ask to come in for a blood test? No context given? Don't they ask you what you're testing for or what to be looking for?

            • djones145 on 03/06/2022 - 12:58
              +3

              @MS Paint: i think he signs the form in blood
              thats how he donates small amounts

          • morse on 03/06/2022 - 12:53
            +33

            @[Deactivated]: 'WTF dude' seems like a pretty appropriate response to someone who says they are only getting blood tests to 'utilize the money I pay during tax'.

            • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 12:55
              -4

              @morse: What about regular customers who flood the clinics and hospitals

              • morse on 03/06/2022 - 12:57
                +10

                @[Deactivated]: Don't worry - I have a feeling you're going to get your money's worth at some point.

                Are you not one of those who 'floods' the clinic if you're going there? especially without an actual health reason.

                • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 12:58
                  -3

                  @morse: The last time I went is 20 months back you clever boy/girl

                  • morse on 03/06/2022 - 13:01
                    +10

                    @[Deactivated]: So what's the problem? If you don't need to go why so concerned about the gap?

                    • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 13:03
                      -3

                      @morse: Are you blind? I am not worried about myself. Did you read what I was saying?

                      • morse on 03/06/2022 - 13:07
                        +7

                        @[Deactivated]: I'll be honest - not in a great deal of detail. I was distracted by the bit about getting blood tests you don't need.

                        I see, you think this will help people with chronic diseases get well? I'm pretty dubious about that. If anything it will just mean more load on hospitals and public health services.

                        • Crow K on 03/06/2022 - 13:28
                          +14

                          @morse: It's the little details that make it a (chefs kiss) peeltheonion doesn't understand the world post.

                          The casual "and of course the blood sample gets donated" thought bubble just lurking there in the background. Gold. Gold!

                      • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 13:11
                        +1

                        @[Deactivated]: You're slipping …….writing more and more like your alt ego account here

            • lunchbox99 on 03/06/2022 - 12:56
              +14

              @morse: And this is why its a good idea to charge people something. Currently there is zero barrier to frivolous use. As long as there is a safety net for chronic illness then I'm fine with being charged.

          • gromit on 04/06/2022 - 18:25

            @[Deactivated]: In fairness that is actually a pretty appropriate response for that comment.

      • donga100 on 03/06/2022 - 17:57
        +15

        You can visit this clinic, they have many locations, and they will not charge you any gap fee. They even provide snacks and drinks and will notify you if you have contracted AIDS/HIV. Complimentary blood pressure, SpO2, platelet count, and blood type detection included. It is a very comprehensive service and you can go regularly and they still won't charge you.

        • mfu on 05/06/2022 - 07:11
          +3

          Sound like a deal.

      • MontyMacaw on 04/06/2022 - 08:04
        +4

        WTF Dude

      • Dreamcast on 04/06/2022 - 18:12
        +4

        Douche bag of the year. Congratulations 🎉

      • fastnbulbous on 05/06/2022 - 13:44

        I was happy to see 1cent of my tax was used for peeltheonions blood test

        • [Deactivated] on 05/06/2022 - 13:56
          -1

          Thanks

      • Blitz001 on 06/06/2022 - 11:35

        Dude just say it’s for your yearly check up, why you gotta trigger everyone like that.

        • [Deactivated] on 06/06/2022 - 14:33

          A lot of hypocrisy from people. I am honest at least.

    • DiscountForThee on 03/06/2022 - 13:11
      +7

      If you are sexually active you should constantly be getting checked. Some of these tests involve blood

        • DiscountForThee on 03/06/2022 - 13:19
          +5

          Does the GP do any actual tests themselves? My experience is they give you a script to go to the nearest Sullivans or QML where all the tests are done (or, collected)

          • Clear on 03/06/2022 - 15:18
            +2

            @DiscountForThee: GPs can do some tests like swabs for herpes and send them off to the path labs.

            • DiscountForThee on 03/06/2022 - 15:21
              +1

              @Clear: Oh fair enough! I've usually been given the swabs to do at the testing clinic itself, along with the urine and blood samples. I guess GPs can also check heart rate and blood pressure, too

              • Clear on 03/06/2022 - 15:29

                @DiscountForThee: Really depends on the GP and if they have a clinic at the practice or not.

            • Grunntt on 04/06/2022 - 09:21
              +1

              @Clear: To be pedantic - that is collecting a sample for testing, not 'doing the test'.
              Pretty much every sample collected is sent to a pathology company for the actual testing to be performed.
              Urine tests for a limited number of things can be performed 'inhouse' but anything that needs machinery to procees is done at a lab.

              • Clear on 04/06/2022 - 09:51

                @Grunntt: Yes I work with pathology labs.

        • knk on 04/06/2022 - 12:16

          They can test for whatever they want, you just might have to pay out of pocket.

      • JoeBogan on 03/06/2022 - 14:59
        +7

        Based on this post it would seem likely that @peeltheonion isn't very active in that area, but I could be wrong

      • Mechz on 03/06/2022 - 13:58
        +30

        That's not how arguments work.

      • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 14:04
        +19

        Look at you flipping between your accounts …….. took you long enough

        • SlavOz on 03/06/2022 - 14:07
          +10

          Mate the last person who accused me of having alt accounts ended up looking pretty silly when a mod publicly debunked his lies.

          I'm not peelingtheonion. Why would I create a different account just to post the same stuff?

          • Xistn on 03/06/2022 - 14:16
            +1

            @SlavOz: Well…. you do Surprise us…

          • [Deactivated] on 03/06/2022 - 14:52
            +7

            @SlavOz:

            Why would I create a different account just to post the same stuff?

            Good question - why do you do it?

          • SBOB on 03/06/2022 - 16:32
            +9

            @SlavOz:

            ended up looking pretty silly when a mod publicly debunked his lies.

            and unlike you when new or updated information was presented, I happily corrected my mistake (correcting ones facts/understanding based on new information, you should try it), apologised, and hoped that my accusation did not tarnish your otherwise pristine and highly regarded forum profile….

            Was difficult to tell you and the other antivaxer getting penalty bin'd at the time for the 'quality' posting apart, so was an easy mistake to make

            • SlavOz on 06/06/2022 - 14:01

              @SBOB: You claimed you had some sort of evidence or confirmation from the mods that I was using multiple accounts. It wasn't a mistake, you flat out lied until you were publicly corrected and forced to retract it.

              • SBOB on 06/06/2022 - 14:19
                +5

                @SlavOz:

                claimed you had some sort of evidence or confirmation from the mods that I was using multiple accounts

                Im pretty sure I confused you and deeseee at the time, as you were both at peak 'crap posting' time, both getting penalty bin visits and both posting with the exact same content/style/quality of discourse, and it turned out to be deeseee making multiple new ghost accounts and not you (based on admins comments)

                So yep, mistake, apologised,and you've grown to be a valuable, well respected and quality contributor to the ozbargain forum ever since.

                So no, I didn't "flat out lie" (and wasn't the only one that claimed ghost account at the time, others similarly saw your and the other users posting style and similarities), but feel free to link to the thread where I claimed it for further clarification

                While at it, want to link to the one where you claimed you'd packed your bags, house was for sale, and you were leaving the country shortly as you were over Australia?

                • SlavOz on 06/06/2022 - 17:03
                  +1

                  @SBOB: It's still in the plans mate. I'm trying up a few loose ends here and there. I'm living on nothing but a mattress and sofa for the time being.

                  Shouldn't judge bases on my posting habits either. It's just as easy to post on Ozbargain from Australia as it is from Slavoland.

                  • SBOB on 06/06/2022 - 17:27

                    @SlavOz:

                    It's just as easy to post on Ozbargain from Australia as it is from Slavoland.

                    Indeed, but hopefully your complaining about our communist country, oppressive regime and loss of freedoms will diminish once you don't live here anymore.

          • eudai on 06/06/2022 - 12:14

            @SlavOz: There's something weird about the internet where people think that because the vast majority of people on this website agree with me, that's an accurate representation of the total population. Nobody could ever think like this guy.

            Where as in reality, the amount of people on any website is a tiny fraction of the total population and there could be any number of people who agree or disagree.

        • Miss B on 05/06/2022 - 09:19

          Probably his mum. He's in his bedroom, she's in the kitchen, he didn't realise she'd posted.

      • freefall101 on 03/06/2022 - 15:28
        +6

        Not sure whether you're trying to claim blood tests are preventative measures too or masks/vaccinations are completely useless, but both are wrong.

        Or maybe you just don't actually understand how medicine works at all and you think masks/vaccinations are a diagnosis tool? Dunno, many layers to this onion need peeling back.

        • SlavOz on 03/06/2022 - 15:30

          Blood tests can indicate something is wrong with you which then opens for doctors to prescribe preventative or curative treatment. But you don't always know you're sick. Sometimes you need a blood test as a precaution, even if you're perfectly healthy.

          • freefall101 on 03/06/2022 - 15:36
            +3

            @SlavOz:

            Sometimes you need a blood test as a precaution, even if you're perfectly healthy.

            Except blood tests are run for specific things that you might be higher risk of, they're a diagnostic tool, not a preventative measure. Ever seen the list of things a doctor can check for when they run a blood test? There's piles of things to look at and they'll limit it to things you're higher risk for. Drinker? Liver tests. Fatty? Cholesterol/diabetes tests. Possibly pregnant? HCG test. There is no select all button available.

            There's at least some indicator of what a doctor tests for and they generally don't do them for fun, it's in response to higher risks. Unlike covid preventative measures which work for everyone.

          • someone else on 04/06/2022 - 12:00
            +5

            @SlavOz: That's not wrong, that's screening.
            Yes, we do check sugar levels, cholesterol, and should have a colonoscopy at some stage, among other tests, even if you don't have symptoms and is "healthy".

            However, we don't do a full MRI scan every 6 months as epidemiologically that's not helpful for the general population.

      • someone else on 04/06/2022 - 11:53
        +5

        Mate, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are different things.

        You give vaccines to prevent;
        Pathology tests for screening or diagnosis;

        It should be obvious, but to be clear: you don't get Variola, Polio, tuberculosis, etc., because you have been vaccinated (I doubt you haven't had any vaccine since you were born), and you might be lucky.

        I understand @peeltheonion is concerned about increasing costs, which is a legitimate concern. We should be blaming the government, not GP clinics that have little chance to survive if they don't transfer costs to the consumers.

        There are indications for regular blood tests in many situations. This can be weekly, monthly, 6-monthly, yearly, every 2 or 5 years… The criteria vary based on the risks for the individual and particular population. For instance, screening for diabetes in the Aboriginal population is different from the non-Aboriginal population. There are epidemiological reasons for that.

        • SlavOz on 04/06/2022 - 11:56

          Mate, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment are different things.

          The point I was making is that they all ideally start when you are healthy, not when you're already sick.

        • thanatos350 on 05/06/2022 - 20:33

          Doesn't this just come down to semantics?

          Wouldn't monitoring patient health, like an annual checkup, be a preventative measure?

          • someone else on 05/06/2022 - 21:07

            @thanatos350: Primary prevention aims to prevent disease or injury before it ever occurs (vaccines)
            Secondary prevention aims to reduce the impact of a disease or injury that has already occurred (screening).
            Tertiary prevention aims to soften the impact of an ongoing illness or injury that has lasting effects (rehabilitation).

            Got the main definitions from here to make things easier.

            So, yes, screening is prevention but some things are easier to prevent. For example, SABIN for Polio, or condoms for STD. I believe anyone who wants to live as a Neanderthal should be free to do so, if that doesn't affect other people.

            • thanatos350 on 06/06/2022 - 15:22

              @someone else: What about screening that detects things that may eventually lead to disease? For example, looking at liver function and enzyme levels that may eventually lead to liver disease?

      • s1Lence on 06/06/2022 - 00:34

        logical fallacy (false equivalence)

    • Dslrfirst on 04/06/2022 - 11:21
      +2

      Its part of modern preventative medicine best practice.

      • [Deactivated] on 04/06/2022 - 12:55
        +5

        100% this, everyone should be getting yearly bloodwork regardless of age. There are so many factors that can be negatively impacting your quality of life that most people probably wouldn't ever consider. Blood pressure too, getting this under control early can add years to your life.

        One downside of socialised healthcare is they try to keep the costs as minimal as possible, meaning we are getting reactive care rather than proactive.

    • Oz em on 04/06/2022 - 23:25
      +2

      Too many randoms from tinder requires many blood tests.

    • lechuck123 on 05/06/2022 - 00:22
      +2

      I don't think you've got a real answer here, but once you get over about 35, doctors do generally recommend a blood test about once every 1-2 years. It's a preventative measure, and it's about picking up on something that if picked up later could cost MORE money for medicare or save a life.

    • Tehcookiemonsta on 05/06/2022 - 01:19

      This is only from my personal experience I think having a yearly routine blood test is a good idea, for FBC and other essentials.

      Then again I'm someone whose had serious medical issues in the past and still have regular blood tests, though I don't think there is much harm in having a general yearly blood test.

    • GrueHunter on 05/06/2022 - 11:59
      +2

      Doctor: "You don't have an acquired brain injury, yet you behave like somebody who was dropped down two flights of concrete stairs as an infant. Maybe a blood test will reveal why you're like this."

    • bowdo on 05/06/2022 - 15:56

      Not OP - I don't get sick, however I am being treated for chronic illness so need regular blood tests to confirm my meds aren't trashing my liver.

      If you were looking for a serious answer!

    • HeWhoKnows on 05/06/2022 - 20:33
      +1

      These people are some 3 or 4 years behind the other GPs/Practices who already charge for visits
      $30 out of pocket is very reasonable compared with some others.
      But one can always find another Bulk Billing practice
      Just dont expect the same service level

    • idonotknowwhy on 06/06/2022 - 09:56

      Why do you get blood tests if you don't get sick?

      Because problems can show up in your blood markers before you begin to show symptoms.
      It's also good idea to have baseline blood markers.

      For me personally, I'm doing the mostly meat diet so do my blood tests every 6 months to check for deficiencies, cholesterol, etc.

  • rektrading on 03/06/2022 - 12:37
    +1

    People who go to the doctor for colds can now save 💵.

  • bobbified on 03/06/2022 - 12:38
    +27

    Is it case with all the clinics? If it is legal why aren't all the clinics not doing it?

    The government pays the same amount for Medicare regardless of your location and that amount is nothing flash.
    Rent/lease and other costs vary by location (for example CBD vs Regional areas) so it'd be normal to expect that more expensive areas will have higher costs. Who's going to open a clinic in the CBD where rents are sky high if they are only able to rely on the government payments? It would be very difficult to survive in the CBD on just the Medicare funds alone.

    At least they still allow bulk-billing for concession card holders and pensioners etc so there's minimal or no out of pocket expenses for people who fall into those categories.

    • Tommyaka on 04/06/2022 - 16:32
      +28

      I personally believe another reason for this trend is the pausing of Medicare indexation.

      Usually Medicare rebates increase yearly inline with inflation, but this was paused for many years. So while cost of living went up, rent went up for clinics, and other costs of practising medicine went up, the amount of funding received by Medicare stayed the same.

      It was inevitable that health providers would look to other sources of income to fund the difference (e.g. charging patients out of pocket fees).

      • WhyAmICommenting on 04/06/2022 - 19:30
        +3

        /thread

      • schwinn on 05/06/2022 - 13:42
        +4

        This is exactly it. Bulk bill clinics have to worked hard to get additional grants and funding into the clinics to be sustainable. Government has been slowly gutting Medicare from the inside, if we aren’t careful we will end up like the NHS where doctors and nurses are overworked and underpaid.

        Of course the government will always make it look like the GPs are the bad guys so they don’t get blamed.

        • ThithLord on 05/06/2022 - 15:45

          "Government" let's beat around the bush some more

      • ensanguined on 05/06/2022 - 15:57
        -6

        Such absolute crap. If only we knew how much BS they charge to Medicare when we attend bulk-billing GPs. They completely rort the absolute shite out of it, charging for longer sessions than they should, for muitiple care plans at once, for visits even thouigh they just ring you and speak to you for ten seconds etc. GPs are doing fine, don't worry. The extra $30 is just another example of post-COVID scamming (i.e. gas, elec bills, groceries, petrol).

        • Tommyaka on 05/06/2022 - 17:30
          +5

          "If only we knew"? Everyone has full access to the Medicare items that are billed against them… It's a matter of checking?

          I'm sorry if you've experienced otherwise, but my health providers have only ever billed me correctly.

  • Crow K on 03/06/2022 - 12:46
    +1

    Maybe they can all cut out the fresh fruit, suncream and work on getting six-pack abs - you know, the signs of 'healthy living'.

  • ESEMCE on 03/06/2022 - 12:47
    +41

    I've been paying to see my GP for more than 20 years. I reckon it's about $60 now!
    This is nothing new.

    Good GPs are worth it IMHO. (not that paying a gap is necessarily indicative of quality, but it's the way the world works as a general guide.. Pay more, get more)

    • try2bhelpful on 03/06/2022 - 12:53
      +2

      Absolutely. I pay put of pocket for my guy. He is, definitely, worth the extra dosh.

      • kaleidoscope on 05/06/2022 - 18:23

        worth the extra dosh

        Or travel bit further and find an equally good bulk billed gp.

    • EightImmortals on 03/06/2022 - 15:26
      +3

      That's weird, the best ones I've ever found always bulk-billed?

      • rheem on 04/06/2022 - 15:01
        +5

        The last fully bulk billed GP I went to was when I first moved to a new area and was having an issue with my knee and being unable to kneel. The GP asked me why I need to kneel, if it's not for prayer then what's the issue? Just don't kneel.

        I've always had a better experience with GPs where you do have to pay a bit extra, I think mainly because they can spend a bit more time with you. Fully bulk billed GPs always feel rushed.

        • May4th on 04/06/2022 - 15:14
          +8

          Reminds me of the meme
          'dr it hurts when i do this'

          'ok.'
          'don't do that' hands over the bill

        • RefusdClassification on 04/06/2022 - 18:07

          Yes, 5 minute medicine (at max) is all you get at local bulk billing clinics near me. For a repeat script that is fine, but not for compilcated multifactorial problems or psych illnesses.

    • geoffs87 on 04/06/2022 - 20:41
      +4

      Yeah, I find BB only docs are very burn and churn, red to see 4-6 patients an hour on bulk billing income just to make ends meet.

      The docs who charge you tend to spend more time with you, and actually help rather than google your symptoms. Money worthwhile.

    • CocaKoala on 05/06/2022 - 09:23
      +2

      Ours is $85 per visit, but we've not seen her in over two years now. Will have continued seeing her in spite of us moving a bit away, and then her moving further away to work at a different clinic and we don't mind the 50 minutes trip at all. Totally agreed that good GPs are worth it!

    • nguyentran on 05/06/2022 - 09:51

      Lived in regional town for a while, could not go to BB gp cause the quality was below sub par, I can get max 4 mins at the consultant, back to the city, bb gp is so much better, may be I live in low population area, I can spend 20 mins or more with them and they're still happy about it

  • morse on 03/06/2022 - 12:47
    +7

    Not sure about the exact circumstances of your GP practice, but this is a common business practice for primary health businesses. Many practices are not GP owned. Most are for profit even if they are GP owned.

    One model is to start the practice off bulk billing, then change having a gap once they've got an established customer based. One practice I used to go to started by introducing a gap on weekends, now they charge a gap at any time for the more popular GPs and not for the less popular GPs. It was all bulk billed when it opened.

    I guess this is the reality of how funding for the primary health system is set up. GP practices do have significant overheads and GPs want to earn at least $200k/annum. If the company wants to take an additional profit on top of that it may be hard to do if bulk billing. The only way for this to change would be that the government mandates the terms under which a gap can be charged whilst accessing Medicare.

    $30 per visit is a lot if you're going to the GP often. It probably depends on the quality of care you receive too.

    • Amaris on 03/06/2022 - 13:10
      +3

      There is also the Extended Medicare Safety Net which once reached ($717 for concession card holders, etc. per family) pays 80% of the gap back. That does help with the gap if visiting the doctor often.

      • morse on 03/06/2022 - 13:16
        +4

        That's true. It's a lot to spend before that kicks in but good that it's there.

        I think many business models see how much they can get away with though. As a taxpayer I'm not sure how I feel about companies skimming profits off public funding. I get the GP has to be paid and paid well, but once you add another layer of the company adding their profit, I think it gets a bit murky around the appropriateness of charging a significant gap on top of public funding.

        • Amaris on 05/06/2022 - 10:23
          +1

          significant gap on top of public funding

          When a gap is charged (and when bulk billed), the practice doesn't get any money from the government. It's the patient who gets part of the fee reimbursed. The practice sets a fee that it sees as appropriate…just like your neighbourhood plumber and sparkie!

          • morse on 05/06/2022 - 14:06
            +2

            @Amaris: Yes but they wouldn’t be able to charge that ‘gap’ without the government subsidy component. Or they would but only to fully private patients which wouldn’t be a sustainable business model for most practices. So a business is basically dependent on there being subsidies for patients. Depending on the model the consumer is either paying for the GPs time and operational costs or GPs time, operational costs and profits for the business owner. This is where I think it gets a bit dubious, especially where it’s not a free market ie the patient is compelled to stay with a practice where the GP knows them, so there are factors interfering with competition. Further as Grunntt points out some of these business also run pathology which make their money entirely through bulk billed procedures, which require a referral from GPs.

            I’m actually starting to feel quite strongly about all these private for profit businesses, which are substantively underpinned by government funding. It’s impacting health, education and aged care and I’m not sure that it represents the best value for tax payers.

            • Amaris on 05/06/2022 - 18:04

              @morse:

              This is where I think it gets a bit dubious, especially where it’s not a free market ie the patient is compelled to stay with a practice where the GP knows them

              This of course should not happen. When a practice threatens to charge more than a nominal fee to transfer record, they should be reported.

              these business also run pathology which make their money entirely through bulk billed procedures

              This is true. However, no GP will/should force patients to get the procedures/ tests done through the company owned service. If a GP does this it is unethical and illegal and again should be reported to AHPRA. In fact, the GP should always tell the patient they're free to get the tests from whatever provider they'd like to use.

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