A Newcastle doctor says the federal government should publish bulk-billing data in a way that gives a clear picture of the number of people receiving free medical treatment. Login or signup to continue reading Dr Milton Sales said more accurate figures were needed to show what patients were "paying or not". "They're spinning the statistics," said Dr Sales, of the Brunker Rd General Practice at Adamstown.
"Of doctor consults in Newcastle, a very small percentage would be bulk-billed. "It's the add-ons that are bulk-billed and they're counting them in their statistics and calling them visits." Shortland MP Pat Conroy said the Albanese government had "ensured transparent reporting of bulk-billing rates".
The Newcastle Herald reported last Monday that federal data for the June quarter showed the GP bulk-billing rate was 74.9 per cent in the Hunter New England/Central Coast health network. This rose from 72.
8 per cent in the same quarter last year. The federal government said this showed the bulk-billing incentives it had offered to GPs since November 1 were working. These incentives - which Newcastle GPs say aren't enough to cover costs - encourage bulk-billing of patients aged under 16, pensioners and concession card holders.
The government had said its data showed that "almost three out of four visits to the GP are bulk-billed in the Hunter". As reported last Monday, Whitebridge doctor Max Mollenkopf said the government was "gaslighting the general population with its bulk-billing narrative". Dr Sales backed Dr Mollenkopf's stance, saying "what the government really should be saying is that 75 per cent of services are bulk-billed".
A Department of Health and Aged Care spokesperson said "using service rather than visit is technically correct, however it has insignificant impact on the bulk-billing rate". However, Dr Sales explained the bulk-billing situation like this: "Say you came to see me for a standard consultation, you would pay $55 out of your own pocket". He said "add-ons" include things like a COVID immunisation discussion, an ECG for a heart check, an age-related health check, a lung function test for asthma and nurse visits.
He said these extra services were "bulk-billed as a courtesy by the doctor". "They could charge for them, but they choose not to because the patients have already paid an out-of-pocket expense." The Albanese government highlighted that Peter Dutton, as health minister, tried to introduce a $7 GP tax a decade ago.
And Mr Conroy, the Shortland MP, underlined the government's efforts to address the need for more bulk-billing. The first stage of commissioning the Newcastle-Lake Macquarie Urgent Care Clinic had attracted 13 expressions of interest from existing practices. He said the clinic would be "open for extended hours, seven days a week, providing care for urgent but non-life-threatening issues".
"No appointments will be required. And patients will be fully bulk-billed." When asked how much funding the clinic will get annually and how many doctors it will fund daily, federal Health Minister Mark Butler's office did not directly answer the question.
It's believed that the clinic will fund one doctor, one nurse and one secretary at all times, potentially from 9am to 10pm each day. Mr Conroy said the urgent care clinic would "work in conjunction with the Hunter's GP access after-hours service". He said the Albanese government had "saved and fully restored" the service, with $28.
7 million in funding after it was cut by the Coalition. Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition, sport. Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition, sport.
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