Here at the SDC, we’ve covered the increasing prevalence of GPs asking for gap payments to stay afloat. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) warned of this trend for months. But now, with inflation soaring and a possible recession looming, more and more Aussies are feeling the pinch.

On Reddit, one user shared that their GP is no longer bulk-billing and asked if it is happening in other practices too. Based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, they asked: ‘Is it part of the Great Rise of the Cost of Living?’

Many said it was happening in their areas, too. A Redditor commented: ‘It recently happened where I am, in the rural outskirts of Brisbane. From walk-in to $70 per appointment, and half back. It's going to make it really tough for some people. The government should be cutting a bunch before allowing this. Sport and club funding etc., while that's important, is not medical care-important.’

GPs are increasingly forced to turn away from bulk billing after years of consecutive losses. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels​

Another said: ‘Adelaide here – can’t find a single bulk billing doctor. I get they need to cover costs, but some people simply cannot afford to see a doctor now. It's not the Australia I know. Disappointing our government has let this happen.’

A third chimed in: ‘Same here, been with GP for ten years but just after Covid lockdowns in Melb, they don't bulk bill. Telephone consult is still bulk-billed, but sometimes I need face-to-face consult which will cost me $75 less Medicare.’

Another stayed with their usual GP but acknowledged that it’s hurting their wallet: ‘My doctor is no longer bulk billing. One of my children was diagnosed with a serious health issue that is lifelong and can take them at any time. I now face paying $150 plus weekly just to see the doctor for check-up or completely moving GPs. It just makes it difficult when our current GP knows the ins and outs.’ They continued: ‘I support Australian GPs and any medical professional, the government need to get their fingers out of their butts and fix the whole medical system and Medicare.’

While Redditors were concerned about the rising costs of healthcare, many sympathised with GPs.

‘I am not smart enough to be a doctor, I have no degree and three years of industry experience in software development. I earn about the same as a bulk billing GP and I interact with 0 sick people. Either prices go up or we won't have any GPs, said one user.’

Another shared: ‘I completely agree that GPs should be charging more. It's ridiculous to expect a fully qualified specialist GP to be getting a Medicare rate of $39 per consult which usually you get 60% of that back If you are an employee of the practice. [...] My dad's an electrician and charges 120 an hour.. standard male haircuts are at $40. Why should we expect a medical specialist to charge less?’

Australia is already facing a decade-long shortage of GPs, but with how things currently are, the country is not likely to meet the recommended number soon. Fewer medical graduates are interested in becoming GPs, with only one in eight entering the specialty, which is not enough to replace veteran doctors who will retire over the coming years.

A Redditor wrote: ‘Enrolment in GP speciality is down massively over the past five years (well below the level predicted we will need), as I don’t think most doctors either want to specialise in general practice or don’t see it as lucrative as other specialities, or both. All the GPs I know have side jobs within the medical profession in addition to their work as a GP, some for financial reasons, some so they vary their work schedule as they don’t find general practice interesting. I can’t help but feel that we will have a crisis within general practice within the next decade, and the idea of a bulk billing GP will cease to exist.’

A physician also shared the sentiment among their general practise colleagues: ‘I’m a doctor but working in a hospital, and my GP colleagues are really disillusioned at the moment. They are leaving in droves – and it’s also affected the GP-run urgent cares in rural towns.’

Many fear that the healthcare system is becoming Americanised. In the US, the healthcare system often leads to high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, which are expensive even to citizens with insurance. Millions of Americans are one medical emergency away from financial ruin – healthcare costs are the number one reason for personal bankruptcy in the country.

One user commented: ‘As someone who lived in the United States for a good portion of time, including a bit with Covid, coming back and seeing the healthcare system in Australia is very scary, it’s almost Americanised. [...] This is a huge departure from just a couple of years ago. I know of some emergency departments charging upfront payments in Sydney as well for private ones. That’s another huge issue is the emergency departments wait times are blown out of control.’

Medicare figures show that the bulk-billing rate dropped to 83.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2022, compared to 88.4 per cent late last year. However, the RACGP says that the numbers refer to the percentage of bulk-billed services, not patients who found bulk-billing GPs. RACPG President Nicole Higgins says the real level is actually far more dire, closer to 66 per cent.

Commenters encouraged fellow Aussies to make their voices heard through their representatives: ‘Straight up, write a letter to your local federal MP. Medicare rebates for GP haven't increased in a decade. They can no longer afford to bulk bill and stay open.’

Another wrote: ‘Investing in primary care is the only way we will stop the increasing cost of healthcare for our country and the widening gap in those who can and can’t afford the health care they need. If you want universal healthcare to remain a thing in Australia, then call and write to your federal MP.’

If you’re interested in what doctors have to say on the matter, ABC recently interviewed Dr Sarah McLay, a GP in rural Queensland who is moving away from bulk billing after personally losing $200,000 in the last three years:

​

 

[MHM]

Here at the SDC, we’ve covered the increasing prevalence of GPs asking for gap payments to stay afloat. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) warned of this trend for months. But now, with inflation soaring and a possible recession looming, more and more Aussies are feeling the pinch.

On Reddit, one user shared that their GP is no longer bulk-billing and asked if it is happening in other practices too. Based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, they asked: ‘Is it part of the Great Rise of the Cost of Living?’

Many said it was happening in their areas, too. A Redditor commented: ‘It recently happened where I am, in the rural outskirts of Brisbane. From walk-in to $70 per appointment, and half back. It's going to make it really tough for some people. The government should be cutting a bunch before allowing this. Sport and club funding etc., while that's important, is not medical care-important.’

View attachment 10944
GPs are increasingly forced to turn away from bulk billing after years of consecutive losses. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels​

Another said: ‘Adelaide here – can’t find a single bulk billing doctor. I get they need to cover costs, but some people simply cannot afford to see a doctor now. It's not the Australia I know. Disappointing our government has let this happen.’

A third chimed in: ‘Same here, been with GP for ten years but just after Covid lockdowns in Melb, they don't bulk bill. Telephone consult is still bulk-billed, but sometimes I need face-to-face consult which will cost me $75 less Medicare.’

Another stayed with their usual GP but acknowledged that it’s hurting their wallet: ‘My doctor is no longer bulk billing. One of my children was diagnosed with a serious health issue that is lifelong and can take them at any time. I now face paying $150 plus weekly just to see the doctor for check-up or completely moving GPs. It just makes it difficult when our current GP knows the ins and outs.’ They continued: ‘I support Australian GPs and any medical professional, the government need to get their fingers out of their butts and fix the whole medical system and Medicare.’

While Redditors were concerned about the rising costs of healthcare, many sympathised with GPs.

‘I am not smart enough to be a doctor, I have no degree and three years of industry experience in software development. I earn about the same as a bulk billing GP and I interact with 0 sick people. Either prices go up or we won't have any GPs, said one user.’

Another shared: ‘I completely agree that GPs should be charging more. It's ridiculous to expect a fully qualified specialist GP to be getting a Medicare rate of $39 per consult which usually you get 60% of that back If you are an employee of the practice. [...] My dad's an electrician and charges 120 an hour.. standard male haircuts are at $40. Why should we expect a medical specialist to charge less?’

Australia is already facing a decade-long shortage of GPs, but with how things currently are, the country is not likely to meet the recommended number soon. Fewer medical graduates are interested in becoming GPs, with only one in eight entering the specialty, which is not enough to replace veteran doctors who will retire over the coming years.

A Redditor wrote: ‘Enrolment in GP speciality is down massively over the past five years (well below the level predicted we will need), as I don’t think most doctors either want to specialise in general practice or don’t see it as lucrative as other specialities, or both. All the GPs I know have side jobs within the medical profession in addition to their work as a GP, some for financial reasons, some so they vary their work schedule as they don’t find general practice interesting. I can’t help but feel that we will have a crisis within general practice within the next decade, and the idea of a bulk billing GP will cease to exist.’

A physician also shared the sentiment among their general practise colleagues: ‘I’m a doctor but working in a hospital, and my GP colleagues are really disillusioned at the moment. They are leaving in droves – and it’s also affected the GP-run urgent cares in rural towns.’

Many fear that the healthcare system is becoming Americanised. In the US, the healthcare system often leads to high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, which are expensive even to citizens with insurance. Millions of Americans are one medical emergency away from financial ruin – healthcare costs are the number one reason for personal bankruptcy in the country.

One user commented: ‘As someone who lived in the United States for a good portion of time, including a bit with Covid, coming back and seeing the healthcare system in Australia is very scary, it’s almost Americanised. [...] This is a huge departure from just a couple of years ago. I know of some emergency departments charging upfront payments in Sydney as well for private ones. That’s another huge issue is the emergency departments wait times are blown out of control.’

Medicare figures show that the bulk-billing rate dropped to 83.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2022, compared to 88.4 per cent late last year. However, the RACGP says that the numbers refer to the percentage of bulk-billed services, not patients who found bulk-billing GPs. RACPG President Nicole Higgins says the real level is actually far more dire, closer to 66 per cent.

Commenters encouraged fellow Aussies to make their voices heard through their representatives: ‘Straight up, write a letter to your local federal MP. Medicare rebates for GP haven't increased in a decade. They can no longer afford to bulk bill and stay open.’

Another wrote: ‘Investing in primary care is the only way we will stop the increasing cost of healthcare for our country and the widening gap in those who can and can’t afford the health care they need. If you want universal healthcare to remain a thing in Australia, then call and write to your federal MP.’

If you’re interested in what doctors have to say on the matter, ABC recently interviewed Dr Sarah McLay, a GP in rural Queensland who is moving away from bulk billing after personally losing $200,000 in the last three years:

​

It is not a matter of turning into America. It is an issue arising from the poor quality of supervision given by the Federal governments ( through Medicare)to the medical industry over the past 20 years. The bulk bill consultation rate should have been adjusted for CPI increases faced by gp's over that period. EP's would not, then have the need to insist on the consultation rates now required.

 

[Aussie all the Way]

$39 every 10 minutes doesn't sound that bad to me, that's how long a consult is, multiply that by 6, $234 an hour. I wouldn't mind that, I know they are very well educated people. It seems to me that Doctors have forgotten why they got into the Profession in the first place, was it to do good and help people. I also think if you have Private Health Insurance you should just claim it through them and not have to pay any out of pocket, you pay enough for PHI at least you should get that back. Heaven forbid you should get a benefit from you PHI.

 

[Tata]

My practice in Mandurah WA too has become private. Last week I went to see GP, spent in his room less than 10 minutes, and offered to pay for the double consultation! When I asked why, the answer was, 'It is up to the doctor to decide how much to charge a patient.' ?
I remember the Choice group article talking on the same issue last month or so - those private clinics love overcharging Medicare to put more money into their deep pockets.

 

[MotherGoose]

People often make comments about how much a medical consultation cost them for a few minutes. But it's not as if that fee is going straight into the doctor's pocket. Doctors or owners of medical clinics have to pay taxes, rent, phone bills, staff wages, medical supplies, and other overheads. When I started working for a local GP in 1987, the Medicare rebate for a standard 10-minute consultation was $17.85. It is now $39.75. So, in 36 years, the Medicare rebate has gone up a mere $21.90. Even a fool can see that this does not reflect a realistic correlation between the rebates, the costs of doing business, and economic indicators such as the inflation rate, cost of living, average weekly earnings etc. A Medicare freeze was introduced in 2013 which has resulted in no increase in the rebate for many medical services, which have remained static for years. For some medical services, it persists to this day. And for some cases, the Medicare rebate has gone down, not up. The reality is that medical clinics cannot afford to continue to bulk-bill under these circumstances as all their costs continue to rise but Medicare rebates stagnate.

 

[carer101]

You should try the Balgowlah Medical Practice. Over $100 and more for a standard consultation.

And we could not be more supportive of these increases seeing that Medicare has not increased their contributions yet are paying non performing public servants up to salaries GP's can only dream of and when compared to the normal blue collar workers on salaries exceeding $200,000 doctors are very poorly treated by all sides of the political line.

 

[Keiffo 1950]

The fat cat doctors who drive around in expensive cars, are making a bad situation worse for there peers, who put in long hours to survive,who then have no choice but, to pass on higher fees to there patients, therefore the people on welfare will suffer the most if bulk billing is not available, I for one would think twice about paying just to get a prescription.
Goverment needs to fix this with urgency.

 

[Suzanne rose]

What worries me is people are going to go without care, including children.

My 15 year old granddaughter became very very sick yesterday. Her tonsils went that big they were touching each other. She couldn't even swallow water or her own saliva.

My daughter rushed her to Liverpool hospital at 3pm and was told they couldn't see her as they had 80 people in casualty.

She then went on to Canterbury hospital and was seen straight away . They put a drip in with fluids and a steroid.

I thought the chemist had repeats for my pain relief Lyrica unfortunately I found out you can only get one repeat at a time. My medical centre couldn't fit me in until tomorrow, that's waiting 10 days and 7 days without my meds

Money needs to be put into our medical system

 

[Tata]

People often make comments about how much a medical consultation cost them for a few minutes. But it's not as if that fee is going straight into the doctor's pocket. Doctors or owners of medical clinics have to pay taxes, rent, phone bills, staff wages, medical supplies, and other overheads. When I started working for a local GP in 1987, the Medicare rebate for a standard 10-minute consultation was $17.85. It is now $39.75. So, in 36 years, the Medicare rebate has gone up a mere $21.90. Even a fool can see that this does not reflect a realistic correlation between the rebates, the costs of doing business, and economic indicators such as the inflation rate, cost of living, average weekly earnings etc. A Medicare freeze was introduced in 2013 which has resulted in no increase in the rebate for many medical services, which have remained static for years. For some medical services, it persists to this day. And for some cases, the Medicare rebate has gone down, not up. The reality is that medical clinics cannot afford to continue to bulk-bill under these circumstances as all their costs continue to rise but Medicare rebates stagnate.

"Medicare rebate has gone up a mere $21.90" - I would argue, this "mere" increase is more than double the previous rebate - in fact, it is 223%!

 

[Tata]

The so called specialists are the most greedy ones in this group. A friend of mine went to see an otolaryngologist with her ongoing post nasal dripping problem. 2 minutes consultation, a lazy look into her mouth, a verdict, 'can't help with this'. $450 the price tag!

 

[lizclarke]

We are light years away from American medical system. We do however need to ensure GP/Medicare rebates increase. I think with enough pressure NOW from the general public the federal government will adjust the rebates

I say NOW because once the GPs leave for either private paying practices or for GP led ER clinics it will take multigenerational enticements to develop GP practices again.

 

[Ricci]

I know it won't be a popular notion but you can only pay out to the doctors what you have received in. In order to increase Medicare payments to doctors then the Medicare Levy on peoples taxes will have to rise. It's been sitting at 1.5% of taxable income for absolutely years and needs to be increased by another 0.5 or 1.0%, there would then hopefully be enough in the pot to allow bulk billing amounts to be increased. Folk won't like it but you have to pay one way or the other, either on your taxes or at the surgery.

 

[MotherGoose]

"Medicare rebate has gone up a mere $21.90" - I would argue, this "mere" increase is more than double the previous rebate - in fact, it is 223%!

Percentages don't give a true picture. The current rebate does not begin to cover costs. So yes, the increase IS "mere"!

 

[Capsam]

You have to be 75 at our super clinic in order to be bulk billed. You can get it though if you are under 5 or are an ATSI patient. We cannot get repeat prescriptions via Telehealth either. Got to make an appointment & pay the piper before getting the rebate. I would like G.P.’s to be well paid but I do not want to be forced back into the position of choosing between food, medication or petrol. Been there, done that. Still being a senior, if you cannot pay for private treatment you are not likely to receive anything that improves your health anyway. COVID proved that. It was a great ”excuse” for not doing anything with a promise to “review” at some later date! Could be too late if cancer is involved or missed!

 

[Rob44]

Issues to consider;

1) Training junior doctors. School leavers are required by the medical schools to have scores within the top 1%-0.5% of Australia's school-leaving marking system for eligibility to undertake a degree in medicine. They are then required to pass the UMAT "intelligence test". They then may have to undergo interviews by staff of their favoured medical school before acceptance.

2) University tuition fees for medical school are among the highest in Australia. Melbourne University charges around $350 000 for a five-year course (check Melbourne University web-site) resulting in a Medical Degree.

3) After medical school, the young doctor then does 2 years as intern in a public hospital generally working 10 to14-hour shifts, possibly with no meal breaks when the work-load becomes heavy, maybe for 6 days a week and is paid somewhere around $70 000-$80 000 a year. It is about at the end of that period that the young doctor will start thinking about how to become accepted by one of the many Royal Colleges of specialisation so as to undertake a course of between 3 years length, as for the Royal College of General Practice, and maybe 6 years for the Royal College of Ophthalmology. Good referees' reports are required to back up the application to be accepted for such courses, study for which is undertaken in the young doctor's own time at the young doctor's expense. By the time a young doctor becomes a GP he/she will have spent about 10 years in training and maybe longer. That particular period will not have been well-paid when compared with a number of other professions and, in particular, certain trades which have required a wage-earning apprenticeship before licensing.

4) An Honours Degree in Mathematics and Physics costs less in University tuition fees, commonly takes 4 years and it is more easy for a school-leaver to enter. Likewise the other sciences. Such sciences often require a PhD for subsequent employment, which entails living on a research grant of $30 000-40 000pa for about 4-5 years, may entail very long hours of work when writing the PhD and leaves the successful PhD student in a position where jobs in the chosen subject may not be easy to find.

5) Whilst young doctors might find obtaining work as a GP is more easy than for young equally well- qualified scientists the initial pay in the first year in a GP 's practice is not necessarily high by present standards.

So society is left having to pay GPs' fees that cover the loss of income during training and also cover the cost of university fees and cost of living expenses of the student doctor. Although this applies to any young scientist with a PhD or other degree, the cost of their university fees would be lower.

From attending GPs' surgeries my estimate is that the GP would average about 4 patients an hour: that the practice has to employ a couple of receptionists, possibly a nurse; requires proper professional cleaning every day; has to pay for equipment and disposable single-use material; and has to pay the normal bills of any business as well as the high third-party liability insurance costs required to cover any mistakes, imagined or otherwise by the patient, the GP and other staff may make.

Australia needs more GPs. This requires lowering our medical schools' requirements for entry to those same entrance requirements as for BSc Honours science courses (which produce scientists capable of excellence and responsibility in the nuclear field as well as in other fields of essential importance to society); and it requires lowering University tuition fees for medicine so that good students from financially-challenged families can be encouraged to consider medicine as a worthwhile career. Added to which our GPs deserve adequate financial compensation for the work required and time it has taken to become allowed to practice. The same may be said in regard to our numerous equally intelligent young scientists who are looking for a job.

I apologise if any of the above has proved offensive to anyone; or is incorrect/inaccurate. It is anecdotal and based on personal experience during a long life of interacting with assorted professionals including some medical doctors and what I have learned from them.

 

[Luckyus]

People often make comments about how much a medical consultation cost them for a few minutes. But it's not as if that fee is going straight into the doctor's pocket. Doctors or owners of medical clinics have to pay taxes, rent, phone bills, staff wages, medical supplies, and other overheads. When I started working for a local GP in 1987, the Medicare rebate for a standard 10-minute consultation was $17.85. It is now $39.75. So, in 36 years, the Medicare rebate has gone up a mere $21.90. Even a fool can see that this does not reflect a realistic correlation between the rebates, the costs of doing business, and economic indicators such as the inflation rate, cost of living, average weekly earnings etc. A Medicare freeze was introduced in 2013 which has resulted in no increase in the rebate for many medical services, which have remained static for years. For some medical services, it persists to this day. And for some cases, the Medicare rebate has gone down, not up. The reality is that medical clinics cannot afford to continue to bulk-bill under these circumstances as all their costs continue to rise but Medicare rebates stagnate.

The government bought in the Medicare system so it is their court to fix this broken forthwith. It should be a priority for the founders of Medicare, the ruling party.

 

[Rob44]

You should try the Balgowlah Medical Practice. Over $100 and more for a standard consultation.

And we could not be more supportive of these increases seeing that Medicare has not increased their contributions yet are paying non performing public servants up to salaries GP's can only dream of and when compared to the normal blue collar workers on salaries exceeding $200,000 doctors are very poorly treated by all sides of the political line.

Non-performing Public Servants: who are these non-performing Public Servants?

 

[Lynjw]

Here at the SDC, we’ve covered the increasing prevalence of GPs asking for gap payments to stay afloat. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) warned of this trend for months. But now, with inflation soaring and a possible recession looming, more and more Aussies are feeling the pinch.

On Reddit, one user shared that their GP is no longer bulk-billing and asked if it is happening in other practices too. Based in Sydney’s Northern Beaches, they asked: ‘Is it part of the Great Rise of the Cost of Living?’

Many said it was happening in their areas, too. A Redditor commented: ‘It recently happened where I am, in the rural outskirts of Brisbane. From walk-in to $70 per appointment, and half back. It's going to make it really tough for some people. The government should be cutting a bunch before allowing this. Sport and club funding etc., while that's important, is not medical care-important.’

View attachment 10944
GPs are increasingly forced to turn away from bulk billing after years of consecutive losses. Credit: Karolina Grabowska/Pexels​

Another said: ‘Adelaide here – can’t find a single bulk billing doctor. I get they need to cover costs, but some people simply cannot afford to see a doctor now. It's not the Australia I know. Disappointing our government has let this happen.’

A third chimed in: ‘Same here, been with GP for ten years but just after Covid lockdowns in Melb, they don't bulk bill. Telephone consult is still bulk-billed, but sometimes I need face-to-face consult which will cost me $75 less Medicare.’

Another stayed with their usual GP but acknowledged that it’s hurting their wallet: ‘My doctor is no longer bulk billing. One of my children was diagnosed with a serious health issue that is lifelong and can take them at any time. I now face paying $150 plus weekly just to see the doctor for check-up or completely moving GPs. It just makes it difficult when our current GP knows the ins and outs.’ They continued: ‘I support Australian GPs and any medical professional, the government need to get their fingers out of their butts and fix the whole medical system and Medicare.’

While Redditors were concerned about the rising costs of healthcare, many sympathised with GPs.

‘I am not smart enough to be a doctor, I have no degree and three years of industry experience in software development. I earn about the same as a bulk billing GP and I interact with 0 sick people. Either prices go up or we won't have any GPs, said one user.’

Another shared: ‘I completely agree that GPs should be charging more. It's ridiculous to expect a fully qualified specialist GP to be getting a Medicare rate of $39 per consult which usually you get 60% of that back If you are an employee of the practice. [...] My dad's an electrician and charges 120 an hour.. standard male haircuts are at $40. Why should we expect a medical specialist to charge less?’

Australia is already facing a decade-long shortage of GPs, but with how things currently are, the country is not likely to meet the recommended number soon. Fewer medical graduates are interested in becoming GPs, with only one in eight entering the specialty, which is not enough to replace veteran doctors who will retire over the coming years.

A Redditor wrote: ‘Enrolment in GP speciality is down massively over the past five years (well below the level predicted we will need), as I don’t think most doctors either want to specialise in general practice or don’t see it as lucrative as other specialities, or both. All the GPs I know have side jobs within the medical profession in addition to their work as a GP, some for financial reasons, some so they vary their work schedule as they don’t find general practice interesting. I can’t help but feel that we will have a crisis within general practice within the next decade, and the idea of a bulk billing GP will cease to exist.’

A physician also shared the sentiment among their general practise colleagues: ‘I’m a doctor but working in a hospital, and my GP colleagues are really disillusioned at the moment. They are leaving in droves – and it’s also affected the GP-run urgent cares in rural towns.’

Many fear that the healthcare system is becoming Americanised. In the US, the healthcare system often leads to high deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, which are expensive even to citizens with insurance. Millions of Americans are one medical emergency away from financial ruin – healthcare costs are the number one reason for personal bankruptcy in the country.

One user commented: ‘As someone who lived in the United States for a good portion of time, including a bit with Covid, coming back and seeing the healthcare system in Australia is very scary, it’s almost Americanised. [...] This is a huge departure from just a couple of years ago. I know of some emergency departments charging upfront payments in Sydney as well for private ones. That’s another huge issue is the emergency departments wait times are blown out of control.’

Medicare figures show that the bulk-billing rate dropped to 83.4 per cent in the last quarter of 2022, compared to 88.4 per cent late last year. However, the RACGP says that the numbers refer to the percentage of bulk-billed services, not patients who found bulk-billing GPs. RACPG President Nicole Higgins says the real level is actually far more dire, closer to 66 per cent.

Commenters encouraged fellow Aussies to make their voices heard through their representatives: ‘Straight up, write a letter to your local federal MP. Medicare rebates for GP haven't increased in a decade. They can no longer afford to bulk bill and stay open.’

Another wrote: ‘Investing in primary care is the only way we will stop the increasing cost of healthcare for our country and the widening gap in those who can and can’t afford the health care they need. If you want universal healthcare to remain a thing in Australia, then call and write to your federal MP.’

If you’re interested in what doctors have to say on the matter, ABC recently interviewed Dr Sarah McLay, a GP in rural Queensland who is moving away from bulk billing after personally losing $200,000 in the last three years:

​

I work for fee based GP practice. GPs lost a lot of money during covid with compulsory billing for Telehealth. We have just increased fees slightly and most patients are ok with it as they know they get great medical services. But I feel fees are too high compared with the Medicare rebate as the rebate is too low for bulk billing Gps to survive. A large number of Aussie patients just can’t afford to pay privately which will put more pressure of hospitals. In Sydney’s North Shore and beaches fees are between $80-90 or more. Maybe those who do not contribute to the Medicare levy should start paying a token fee to relieve some of the pressure rather than abandoning Bulk billing altogether. Pensioners excepted. Taxpayers are covering too much already. The govts need to stop spending more on skateparks etc and incentives for overseas students and increasing their own salaries. Maybe they need to tax higher income earners more heavily and they need to concentrate on their own citizens and their health and education. Protect us. Remember those who have worked all their life and are on low incomes. Don’t let our healthcare system deteriorate to UK or USA standards.

 

[Vet543]

Are our doctors really interested or concerned with our health and well-being.
You work this out after you read this absolutely truthful experience.
I slipped and SLID down a one metre high embankment, hurting or cracking one of my ribs.
The pain was getting worse so I was advised to go to casualty for a check.
Upon arrival, no one was interested in my rib/ribs. The first thing was do a RAT test ..OK let's do it.
I have NO symptoms, Temp is normal and NO headaches or any type of pain expect the rib cage.
After waiting from 5.30 pm until 2.30am the next morning for a bed to become available BECAUSE they said the RAT was positive. I asked to see the result but was treated like "DON'T DOUBT US JUST DO WHAT YOU ARE TOLD. amen"
Next the casualty Doctor came in to the casualty room, in an apparent hurry, picked up the chart and read it.
THEN he turned to me and said "Do you want to be resusitated?" what? he repeated Do you want to be resusitated?" I replied, "Doctor, you have signed a hypocratic oath and under oath you are obliged to keep me alive and well. Is that NOT true? .. He ignored me saying ..Do you know what day it is? Do you know what hospital this is? What is your Mother's maiden name? What Town is this? etc etc..
Well, I answered his questions AND he said "Do you have any questions for me?"
This doctor is Asian and so I said, " Firstly, what is your name? (He hadn't introduced himself) he replied, "Gabriel" and then I asked ..Gabriel Do you know what town the Hospital is situated in?"
He immediately turned to the door and said very clearly... I don't have to put up with this shit.
Then promptly departed through the door.
Never to be seen again by me.

Four days in hospital and the Queensland Premier called Isolation for Co Vid sufferers finished.
Now the four days in the ward I was treated like a Leper .. OK I was IF I HAD COVID .. Four times everyday
the nurses would take my temperature and when asked, would show me (36.8 everytime) Blood Pressure and heart beat were anywhere from 158/53 to 168/57 regular heart beat was from 51 to 56/7 constantly.
Well, I was released and given boxes of drugs for all sorts of things because ONE enzyme SEEMED to indicate that I had had a heart attack. Wait ! No symptoms of any sort to indicate a heart attack.
Possibly, I am already dead ??

OK Then the Bulk billing is dumped at my clinic who did Blood Tests, Urine Test etc.
Now according to the Doctors I have diabetes ... my accu tester says regularly 5.4 - 7.6 and my sister has told me NOT to test for a minimum of 2hrs after eating.
My Doctor has allowed me two appointments on bulk billing and says the next will cost $65 and a refund of some kind from medicare or medibank (whoever)
My last appointment was bulk-billed and I was informed of the results from the tests now the clinic is telling me that I am to make an appointment for my result .. WHY? This time it would cost me. So I asked for phone call appointment AND ANSWER IS NO .. They have texted me 3 times this week says that they have medical information to tell me about ..WHAT INFORMATION? No Answer to that question.
Well. I HAVE NO MONEY LEFT IN MY BUDGET TO COVER DOCTOR'S FEES and I have informed the clinic of this at least 6 times when I have previous visited or phoned the clinic.
I say IF THE INFORMATION IS IMPORTANT THEN PUT IT ON MY GOV RECORDS AND I WILL FIND A DOCTOR WHO DOES BULK BILL ..
It seem that they won't do that so if I die because of a lack of medical care by not telling me what is wrong with my health then THEY SHOULD BE CHARGED WITH MANSLAUGHTER. Also, with blackmail.

Man.. I am certianly irate BUT if I say that at the clinic desk they would probably call the police and heve me charge for aggressive behaviour .. so GOODBYE CRUEL WORLD.. maybe.
Ohh! Not one doctor has taken a look at my rib... and the pain has subsided unless I really breath in heavily.. What happened to the Queensland Casket System?

 

[viviennemary1951]

While I understand that doctors need to be paid for their work, I am one of many who live pension to pension. The choices for me now are do I pay a bill or go to the doc, then there is the problem of the prescription. I know it's only $6.60 per. but when one has 10 different scripts all of which help with diabetes and other chronic illness. Needless to say doctors visit NO, Prescriptions are tablets every second day ,the list grows...