The average out-of-pocket cost for Hunter patients to see a GP has risen by 58 per cent in a decade, Medicare data shows. Login or signup to continue reading This gap fee was $47.06 in the June quarter, rising from $41.
04 in the same period last year and $29.80 in 2013/14. The amount, which covers the Hunter New England and Central Coast primary health network, was similar to the NSW rate of $47.
44 and the national rate of $47.69. The data showed the GP bulk-billing rate was 74.
9 per cent in Hunter New England/Central Coast in the June quarter. This rose from 72.8 per cent in the same quarter last year, but was well below the 82.
3 per cent rate in 2013/14. Dr Max Mollenkopf, of Whitebridge Medical Centre, said the federal government was "gaslighting the general population with its bulk-billing narrative". "They are trying to tell you as a consumer that you are getting bulk-billed more and you're better off under their changes," Dr Mollenkopf said.
"If you ask yourself and your neighbour, am I getting bulk-billed more, have I got more in my pocket, the answer is invariably no." The government said the data showed that "almost three out of four visits to the GP are bulk-billed in the Hunter" and the out-of-pocket costs applied to about "one in four visits that were not bulk-billed". But Dr Mollenkopf said the government was "trying to sell a narrative to the population".
"People just need to look around and realise it's not actually true," he said. He said a key reason why the bulk-billing rate seemed high was related to Medicare item numbers. "When they measure the number of bulk-billed item numbers, it doesn't reflect the number of people who have attended a general practitioner appointment.
" He gave the example of two patients to make his point. Patient A, who has multiple chronic diseases, is bulk-billed under four Medicare item numbers for a single appointment, reflecting the person's various conditions. While Patient B, who is not bulk-billed, falls under only one Medicare item number for a standard appointment.
Since November 1 , the government has offered GPs extra incentives to bulk-bill patients aged under 16, pensioners and concession card holders. Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said this was "the largest investment in bulk-billing in Medicare's 40-year history". "The increase in the bulk-billing rate in the Hunter shows that this is working," Mr Butler said.
But Dr Mollenkopf said this initiative benefited "a small group of patients". "We're grateful that the government is helping us to support these patients more," he said. "But for the broader population this is not a victory - they're paying more out of pocket.
" The federal government's most recent increase of Medicare rebates was 4 per cent, but healthcare CPI for staff, rent and consumables rose by more than 6 per cent. Nonetheless, Mr Butler said this year's increase to Medicare rebates was "the second largest increase in the past 30 years". "The largest increase was last year," he said.
"In just two years, the Albanese government has increased Medicare rebates by twice as much as the former government did in nine years." Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition, sport. Health and medicine, science, research, nutrition, sport.
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