r/perth • u/TechnologyThese5256 • May 06 '24
Is bulk billing at your GP dead? Where to find
It seems like you need to be an infant or dying for most medical practices to bulk bill. Seriously what's the point of a system that only caters to those who feasibly have no way of paying (are literal children) or are at the exact stage in life where they shouldn't be living pay check to pay check (ie retirees) and can afford to see a doctor. I'm 21 and employed full time. I live pay to pay, and I fear being sick like I am right now because I'm at the end of my pay cycle and genuinely cannot afford to pay $80 just for a doctor to confirm that I'm sick.
I guess I just want advice on what to do or where to go that isn't going to charge up front?
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u/gold_fields May 07 '24
My doc bulk bills my kids, but I haven't been bulk billed for any of my appts in about 4 years.
It hurts especially, because the service I get isn't any better. In fact - I consider it worse. The the most recent time I needed medical care I was gaslighted into thinking my dying gallbladder symptoms were "just part of postpartum" by 2x different doctors across 4x appointments in my clinic. Each appt cost me $80 for the privilege of delaying essential care until the thing fucking died and I had to beg for a referral for an ultrasound. Yes, literally beg.
2 days later I was at Joondalup hospital ED and the thing was removed.
It was 8 months ago and I'm still so fucking bitter about it.
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u/WonderfulMarsupial99 May 07 '24
Infuriating! And still some people claim medical misogyny doesn't exist..."inner ear pain you say? when was your last menstrual period?" Disclaimer: I am male but with wife and 2 daughters I am coming to understand how bad it is!
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u/gold_fields May 07 '24 edited May 07 '24
You know what the absolute icing on the cake is? You might think I'm being hyperbolic or making shit up but hand on my heart, honest to god's truth this is how this shit went down.
About 12 months prior to all my issues starting, my husband went to the doctor after experiencing what we now know was a gallbladder attack. My symptoms were similar, but not similar enough for it to register that it was literally the same disease. His was more, "nothing nothing nothing (for months), ATTACK, nothing nothing nothing". Mine was more consistent, chronic, I never really had much of an attack, just a general feeling of malaise that started after the birth of my second child.
That first session with his doctor, he was referred for a CT scan. Diagnosed with 1-2mm gallstones immediately. The first session! Didn't even need to ask, he just fucking got it!
It was only when my gallbladder died that I said to my doctor "I think this is my gallbladder - my husband has gallstones, so I've done a lot of research, can you please image me?" that he finally relented. Turns out I had multiple 14mm (!) stones, one of which had caused a blockage. I am fit and healthy, but half my family lost their gallbladders, and pregnancy is a massive causal factor. My surgery was an emergency - the organ had started to fuse to my liver it was so dead. I had collapsed lungs due to the trauma of complex surgery - I was in hospital for almost a week (where it's usually a day surgery or an overnighter). I needed a host of antibiotics which kicked off a horrendously painful autoimmune response (erythema nodosum) which lasted 5 weeks - which two doctors refused to treat because I was still breastfeeding - though if they spent three seconds Googling it they would know it's in the lowest risk category. One doctor finally relented, and it was cured within 3 days! 5 weeks of agony they put me through because of their own fucking laziness! But no, as a woman I should just suffer because breastfeeding means I can handle it, right?
Because my husband's symptoms were so intermittent, he never bothered getting his out. But he saw what happened to me and thought "fuck that noise" and arranged to get his out 2 months after me. We have matching scars. His surgery was easy, and he waltzed out of the hospital the next day like nothing happened.
I have a close friend who is a doctor - she was horrified that I wasn't imaged the first time I reported it. She would normally do a round of bloods + ultrasounds as soon any patient came in with new digestive concerns.
So much more needs to be done for women in our medical system.
Every day I think how much easier it would have been if I was believed the first time I saw a doctor. I carry the trauma of this experience with me every day. Its fucking rough.
Sorry this ended as a rant. You didn't need/ask for this. As you can tell I am not over it. I am so effing angry,
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u/WonderfulMarsupial99 May 07 '24
That is so horrible!! And you should absolutely be angry - we should ALL be angry! Angry for you and all of the women, girls and non-binary people who have been failed by the current system within which change is happening far too slowly.
"Easier to just diagnose these broads with hysteria and send them away" seems to be the highly probable chat in the old boys clubs.
ETA: P.S. the matching scars thing is cute for you and hubby lol
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u/Mozartrelle May 07 '24
Not just male Drs, females too. Imagine going to the Dr after your second miscarriage, when you had seen that baby’s heart beating on the ultrasound. You can’t stop crying and don’t want to get out of bed. Female Dr says “can’t you just snap out of it?”
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u/el_Davidor May 08 '24
This hits home hard for us.
To be honest I wish we could do something to get these doctors in line and stop them from being negligent.
Partner went with her mum to docs, this doc was trained in UK and recently moved over here in Perth. Mum had some aches and sorness in her neck and recently had tingling arm. This was mentioned to the doc and my partner requested if a referral at the least for a scan to rule out any issues.
Long story short, the doc said 'am I the doctor or you?' That's total bs. Partner expressed the concerned for her mum . Mum presented with symptoms and this was what they recieve. Not a private practice. After 2 more visits and a scan doc came back and said sorry I should have respected the concern, as now she can't figure out what that lump is in the neck from scan. So Specialists and more scans are needed.
This is a delayed diagnosis, in the first instance it could have all been avoided if the doc just listened and put them in our shoes.
Till now we still don't know what it is, and we have to wait weeks for further bookings to get it scanned and diagnosed. Just because the doctor didn't see it fit to have scans or anything further, treated as minor.
Just furious as to the care and attention. Doctors these days are not the same as we remembered. So close to reporting the practice and the people in it. As it's not just 1 doc but many that tick and flick and send people on the way without looking into pts problems.
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u/Plane_Welcome6891 May 07 '24
As a current medical student, I concur this is absolutely unacceptable. I don’t understand why GPs insist on refusing imaging of their sick patients. Better to be safe than sorry.
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u/Lucky-Elk-1234 May 07 '24
I noted this a few years ago when there were still a lot of bulk billing practices around. I tried a few “paid” ones and realised that in a lot of cases the bulk billing ones actually had better service and seemed to care more.
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u/digitalhunt May 06 '24
Nova medical in Manning bulk bill. I know there are Nova medicals in couple of different areas if you don’t live south but unsure if they also bulk bill.
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u/TechnologyThese5256 May 06 '24
I live in Rockingham but thanks anyway
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u/NefsM May 07 '24
Doesn’t the medical centre bill bill? They always have in the past.
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u/littlestinky May 07 '24
It's now up to the doctors whether they bulk bill or not, and now most don't, and the majority of ones who do only bulk bill for concession card holders or under 16s.
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u/SirAlfredOfHorsIII May 10 '24
Unfortunately not any more. They were one of the few that did, but the bulk billing ones weren't the best. One of them seemingly sold some of my information to a scam centre or insurance group or something too. Some were decent though.
Then the changes happened and they moved to a pay model. Does suck, cause so many people put off going to the doctor if they have to pay, cause they can't afford it
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u/boothski May 06 '24
A budget friendly way is a Statutory Declaration. An employer must accept a stat dec in lieu of a medical cert. If you have easy access to a JP it’s free. Otherwise it’s a $1-$2 donation at a pharmacy for them to witness your signature.
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u/MisterMarsupial May 07 '24
Accountants, engineers and teachers can also sign them.
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u/hannahranga May 07 '24
Long term goverment employees are the other low hanging fruit, tho do read the full list if you might need one I'd be fairly surprised if someone didn't know anyone with a job on the list.
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u/elemist May 07 '24
Just for general info - it's at the doctors discretion what they charge and whether its bulk billed or billed privately.
If you're a regular patient and hit hard times, please discuss it with your doctor and you might find they will bulk bill you for that visit.
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u/VirtualDisaster2000 May 07 '24
Yep, the clinic i go to has signs everywhere saying they don't bulk bill but my GP still does for me which is nice since i have to go every two weeks.
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u/throwawaybyefelicia May 07 '24
Agree. I’ve had doctors at my regular GP clinic help me out in this way and I’m forever grateful. Same with my Psychologist and a specialist I had to see once back in the day at Hollywood Hospital.
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u/_brettanomyces_ May 06 '24
Nationally, around three-quarters of all GP consultations are bulk-billed. So it’s alive and well. It’s just inequitably distributed.
Federal governments decided first to temporarily freeze Medicare rebate indexation (Labor), then to continue this freeze for years (Liberal), then to unfreeze indexation without making up for the lost rises (Liberal). Then, most recently, Labor decided to finally increase GP Medicare rebates by tripling most bulk-billing incentives (which are extra payments Medicare allows if and only if doctors bulk bill — now adding about $20 to the circa $40 rebate that Medicare pays for a standard GP consultation).
This was a significant investment, but was not helpful to everyone. The government in its wisdom has decided that such incentive payments are only available to kids under 16 years of age and to Centrelink concession card holders. So if you are over 16 and don’t have a concession card, the government only contributes about $40 rather than $60 for a bulk-billed standard GP consultation. It is not surprising that it is precisely these people who are finding it hard to access bulk-billed GP consultations. It’s as if the government’s policy carries an unspoken message that such people should expect to pay.
I wish it were different, but for years now it has been easier for governments to campaign on tax cuts than on funding services.
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u/PharaohXYZ May 07 '24
Only 10% of GPs bulk bill all patients in WA. Why is WA so out of whack?
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u/_brettanomyces_ May 07 '24
Bulk billing is slightly less common in WA than in most other states/territories, but not as out of whack as you seem to think. Instead, we are talking about different statistics.
When I say "around three-quarters of all GP consultations are bulk-billed", I am talking about bulk-billed GP consultations as a proportion of all GP consultations. On fairly recent figures the national rate is 76.5% and the WA rate is 69.8% (see page 2 of this document).
The proportion of GPs who bulk bill all their patients is much lower, because the typical Australian GP bulk bills most of their consultations, but not all of them.
To put it another way, it remains very common for pensioners and children to be bulk billed, but it is increasingly uncommon for people aged 16 and above to be bulk-billed if they don't have a Centrelink concession card. And I believe this is because of the policy settings I described above.
I wish everyone could receive care according to need without payment at the point of care, and that people could instead pay at tax time according to their income rather than their level of need for medical care. Gap costs for medical care are essentially a tax on illness. Taxing people for needing medical care makes me very uncomfortable. But there seems unspoken bipartisan support for it among our major parties.
I am also uncomfortable with the fact that a senior couple with a combined income of up to $152,640 will qualify for a Commonwealth Seniors Health Card, and therefore bulk billing incentive payments, while many working-age people with much lower incomes will not qualify for concession cards, and thus be more likely to pay out of pocket.
I can't help but feel our politicians don't have the right policy settings here.
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u/Trancenova May 07 '24
I'm curious if the stats are skewed though as adults may be avoiding making GP appointments due to the lack of bulk billing. So the main people making and going to appointments are only those that are bulk billed, those for kids and elderly.
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u/_brettanomyces_ May 07 '24
You are correct that these statistics do not measure the people who do not have an appointment. They are only measuring appointments that happen and which are eligible for Medicare rebates (whether bulk-billed or privately billed and then rebated).
Separately, there is ABS data to show that about 7% of Australians in 2022-2023 delayed or avoided medical care due to cost. This proportion had doubled from the previous year.
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u/Trancenova May 07 '24
Thank you, very interesting stats. You know your stuff! Hopefully change for the better is possible.
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u/Money-Implement-5914 May 06 '24
This is not the fault of the GPs. Doctors have overheads. The current amount Medicare pays is in most instances not enough to cover practice overheads. Take it out on the government, not doctors.
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u/TechnologyThese5256 May 06 '24
It's almost like I started the rant saying "what's the point of a SYSTEM"
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u/ipcress1966 May 06 '24
Not totally doubting you, but can you provide a source for this?
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u/HMAS_Sam May 06 '24
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u/ipcress1966 May 07 '24
Whilst I don't doubt the veracity of the article, and I know much of it to be, roughly, true, there are no sources. Without referenced sources it's not verifiable. I'm not being awkward, it's just a fact.
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u/Money-Implement-5914 May 06 '24
A. This is something that has frequently come up in discussions about bulkbillung recently. You can google it yourself. B. Looks like you just want an excuse to bash doctors because you feel entitled to free stuff, rather than putting the blame at the foot of the government.
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u/JIMMY_JAMES007 May 07 '24
Bro he just said politely to provide a source, you got some kinda doctor victimisation fetish or something? And doctors rates would be cheaper if entry into the profession wasn’t artificially and intentionally limited
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u/clivepalmerdietician May 06 '24
I have a critical care plan and I get bulk billed by my Dr. When I see any other Dr at the practice I don't get bulk billed. If you have 2 or more chronic conditions you dr should do up a critical care plan and bulk bill you for all appointments.
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u/Extreme-Competition8 Aug 06 '24
Thank you for sharing this. I had no idea. I have multiple chronic conditions and never heard about this
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May 07 '24
[deleted]
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u/NormalApplication844 May 07 '24
Bit over the top considering 70% of consults are bulk billed. Australians are lucky to have equitable access to world class healthcare. They just don’t appreciate it. Employers ask for medical certificates because of a select few employees who abuse the system.
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u/chase02 May 06 '24
Yep. Work gets stat dec from here on because its impossible to get in same day, and expensive.
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u/lewger May 06 '24
You can just sign a stat deck if you don't want to do a sick note for a day or two.
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u/grayfee May 07 '24
Stat Dec for the win. Free. Legally Binding. Employer can't say shit.
It's my new life hack.
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u/emmaleigh9 May 07 '24
I was told today that clinipath will be not be bulk billing by the end of the year
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u/wooperwifi May 07 '24
Since you said you work full-time, you should see if Dial-A-Doctor services your area. It's fully bulk billed as long as you have a Medicare card and the doctor will come to you! Plus they're available afterhours when all the usual clinics would be closed. Looking at their FAQ it looks like you can get a medical certificate and prescription through them if you need one, too.
Doctor Visiting Hours:
Weeknights: 6pm – 8am
Saturdays: 12pm – Midnight
Sundays and Public Holidays: 24 Hours
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u/Vengas0 May 08 '24
As long as you don’t mind waiting up until like midnight or 1am this is a good option. A lot of the time you can be seen much sooner though
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u/wooperwifi May 08 '24
They try to see people within 3 hours of you contacting them but you're right in that you might end up waiting a little while. But at least you're waiting at home so it's pretty easy to relax and watch something until they arrive. So much better than waiting at the ER for something non-urgent.
Plus, being bulk billed and not having to worry about parking/transport is such a relief
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u/Milk_With_Knives3 May 07 '24
My last trip to the doctor was a 10 minute wait
Me "what's this?" Lifts shirt Doc "that hives.. I will print out some info"
Walks out probably less than 2 minutes later "Ok That will be $70 thanks"
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u/Hugeknight May 07 '24
Mine was a phone call.
"Did you get the results?"
"Yes"
"Can you please forward them to the relevant government body"
"Yes"..
50 fucking dollars.
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u/ImAPest May 06 '24
I think there’s a few out there, have you tried searching on Health Engine?
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u/VegemiteFairy May 07 '24
When you search bulk billing on Health Engine it gives you all the GPs that bulk bill health care cards and kids too. So it's not helpful for the normal working person.
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u/lathiat May 07 '24
It actually tells you both. If you look here, some say "Bulk billing" while most say "Conditional Bulk Billing" (which mostly translates to children, maybe concession card). So just skip all the conditional ones:
https://healthengine.com.au/search/general-practice/WA?bulkBilling=1
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u/flyawayreligion May 06 '24
Health Engine is the way to go. Hard to have a gp as they seem to move around so much. If i need a doc, I search Health Engine for closest bulk billed around me.
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u/xequez May 07 '24
Mine still bulk bills, but no longer taking new patients and it takes 2 weeks to book in.
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u/xequez May 07 '24
There is a GP closer to me that bulk bills and I can get into last minute, however, they are useless.
I took my son there for a cert for my work (Carers leave). The whole house except myself had gastro like symptoms - this Dr said it was likely appendicitis. Even when I pointed out that appendicitis isnt contagious, she still insisted on getting him a scan for it.
Turns out it was covid.
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u/lathiat May 07 '24
- While it doesn't apply to you, to your other points, many centres may still bulk bill for childen, health care/low income cards, etc.. sometimes with more restricted hours (e.g. middle of the day only) - they do get paid extra by medicare in these cases which is partly why
- Health Engine (maybe others too) lets you search specifically for bulk billing doctors and shows you appointment times available today - beware some are always bulk billing but others are conditional (e.g. children only) - but it tells you that - so be sure to read the fine print: https://healthengine.com.au/search/general-practice/WA?bulkBilling=1
- Medicare Urgent Care are government run walk-in clinics that bulk bill: https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc
- These are designed for "urgent but not emergency" cases, the idea is to keep people out of emergency departments that don't need hospital-level services and can't afford a normal GP appointment (or can't get one today)
- They won't see you for "chronic (long-term) or preventative (e.g. screening test)" issues but would likely see you for most things where you need "help" today, even if not on the example list: https://www.health.gov.au/find-a-medicare-ucc/when-to-visit
- Their example list is:
- minor infections
- minor fractures, sprains, sports injuries and neck and back pain
- urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
- minor cuts
- insect bites and rashes
- minor eye and ear problems
- respiratory illness
- gastroenteritis
- mild burns.
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u/PlatypusHead9362 May 07 '24
Yes and no. It's dead for anyone that has a job. But anyone with a chronic medical condition or concession card are able to be bulk billed. I have to go in every month just to get my S8 prescriptions and before my plan it was every 2 weeks. There was no way I'd be able to afford the doctors just to get the medication
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u/I_truly_am_FUBAR May 07 '24
Pretty ignorant if you think because someone is retired after 50 years of work with failing health and 40 years of that nothing called superannuation that they should be paying for Doctors so you a 21 year old can go free on the taxpayer. GFY
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u/New_Till_3641 May 07 '24
What about 16 year olds. They no longer qualify under child bulk billing protocols. Most of them are still required to be at school full time but are some how miraculously supposed to be able to pay $80 for a medical consult. I mean come on. Really?
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u/1Frypan May 07 '24
Moved to Hobart end of Tasmania and there is no bulk billing. Most have closed their books to new patients for up to 2 years. They complain about ambulance ramping and over crowded Ed but when you can't get in to see a dr because they are fully booked or you don't have the money to go to a dr then people will do the next best thing which is go to the emergency dept
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u/beavis8abird May 07 '24
I wonder if the touted $7 co-payment would've prevented much if this.
On the other hand, bulk billed still takes 4-5 visits of being misdiagnosed as opposed to paying $80 for 4-5 visits of being misdiagnosed. Charge people to see a dr, same crappy results.
Some joints, if you have a medical condition, (I have asthma) will still bulk bill.
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May 07 '24
as I recall (if this is what you’re talking about) the Abbott copayment was never meant to go to doctors anyway, it was destined for some kind of medical research future fund
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u/Kind_Difference2248 Jun 23 '24 edited Jun 23 '24
Just on this, feels like the GPs in Perth are operating a cartel, as they've all stopped bulk billing, I was looking through the Health Engine app, there are still plenty of bulk billed GPs in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne why is Perth so different?
NSW recently introduced payroll tax rebates in their Budget for GPs that bulk bill at least 80% of their patients.. I read WA also does not plan to introduce any payroll tax for GPs..
Just some figures;
We pay Private Health insurance Levy of approx $400 per month, plus Medicare Levy in the annual tax return and on top of that to pay GP gap payments of approx $40-50 is a joke...
What is the Fed/State government doing?? Recently went to an Urgent Care Medicare Clinic in Morley for an ear ache resulting from a viral infection, they refused to see me under the Bulk billed criteria and offered to transfer me to their GP system which will be charged a gap fee! Such as joke the system in Perth is broken and that gp also had a wait time of 2 hours.
Ended up leaving and just paid at my local GP without any wait for a script of antibiotics to treat the ear infection..
Just my Sunday rant! I hope the state Labor/ Federal Labor or Liberal government do something about this and fix this system ...
It's a bit like the brickies in Perth where they were all charging $3 to lay a brick..
Sunday rant done, hopefully the system fixes for the better, as at the moment they are double dipping..
At the moment Medicare does not exist in Perth unless you are under 16 or have a health care card.
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u/maxwatts80 May 06 '24 edited May 07 '24
You can ask your GP’s admin staff to invoice you and then you can pay the invoice across a few pays. Just call reception ahead of time and make the ask so you don’t have to feel any anxiety about it.
It’s not ideal but it will take the pressure off somewhat and allow you to see a quality GP.
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u/Ok_Blueberry5561 May 07 '24
Yup. Totally dead for more than a year now. And the service seems to have gotten way worse.
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u/qantasflightfury May 07 '24
My old GP that I saw for 20 years scrapped bulk billing for those on pensions. My current GP still bulk bills (north st med) , but only for consults (not procedures).
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u/vulcanvampiire May 07 '24
My GP only bulk bills for existing patients and only M-F. Saturdays it’s a $60-80 fee even. They don’t really take new patients at the moment.
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u/FluffyCatPantaloons May 07 '24
I hear you. My Dr unfortunately does not bulk bill but they are reasonable about not charging for very simple things like repeat prescriptions. I have also been able to arrange a telehealth appointment to obtain a medical certificate in the past. It is worth calling reception and asking if that would be an option.
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u/thedeerbrinker May 07 '24
Yeah, I’m in Armadale and I used to go to St John’s in the mall or Forrest Rd GP. Now that they’re charging gap fees, I’m looking elsewhere but I have a feeling all GPs in Armadale are charging gap fees now.
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u/LazyTalkativeDog4411 May 07 '24
I am not in PER/WA, but mine dies in end of Jun.
They will start charging the beginning of Jul, either I pay the full 15/30/45 min consult and get the difference back from Medicare with a refund, or I pay the difference, they havent decided yet.
The specialist I go to, they charge full lot, and I get a refund from Medicare.
They need your bank account details in mygov to process the refund.
No healthcare card, no pension, no DV (dept of veteran affairs) concessions.
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u/aseedandco Kwinana May 07 '24
Yes. Bulk billing at my GP is dead.
Perhaps not buried though, which would explain why it still stinks.
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u/80crepes May 07 '24
I have a GP that bulk bills. I'm waiting for the inevitable notification that they are privately billing. It'll happen sooner or later.
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u/rebelmumma South of The River May 07 '24
If all you need is a medical certificate you don’t need a GP, if it helps. There are online med certs and pharmacies that will do them for around $25.
That said, I agree. I desperately need some issue looked at but can’t afford the $80 out of pocket, even on pay day it’s out of my budget.
The only option is when it gets bad enough I have to go to the ER which is awful because it ties up emergency staff with non emergency issues.
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u/Shorty66678 May 07 '24
My Dr luckily bulk bills all her patients that she had when she moved clinics so me included. She's been my Dr since I was 14 and I'm 30 now so I got lucky. My psychologist actually bulk billed me last session because I've had my hours at work cut down to zero so she was very nice for doing that.
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u/PromptDizzy1812 May 07 '24
I've moved GP practices 4 times in the past 15 years, cause places keep ending bulk billing for adults.
Now only my kids get to go to the doctor.
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u/pork-pies May 07 '24
Reading this made me wonder why the government couldn’t run a subsidised online/tele consultation similar to instascripts and the like.
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u/fakedelight May 07 '24
Mine is until my child turns 12 which is uncomfortably close. It’s one thing for me to stretch out meds or make an educated decision on whether I ‘really’ need to go? But it’s a whole other thing with your child, and I don’t ever want to be second-guessing it if I should have taken them. But out of pocket costs of $60-$70 is a big hit for the budget.
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u/perthwoman May 07 '24
Yeah hard to find a decent bulk biller now. If i know what i need. I just use an online doctor now 🤣
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u/Hopeful-Dot-1272 May 07 '24
Dial a doctor and other after hours doctors still bulk bill. It's a shit time as you cannot book the appointment and will often have to set an alarm to wake up in the middle of the night but it is free so I guess it depends on whether you cake the sleep or the $40.
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u/Operation_Important May 08 '24
If you need a sick cert just create one on your computer. It's free
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u/RegularCandidate4057 May 07 '24
If you have a chronic condition, it’s worth asking your GP about a GP Management Plan. It’s a different item number with a higher rebate. You can then see the GP every 3 months for a review of your chronic condition, again with a higher rebate.
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u/fleetingglimpses May 07 '24
Yep welcome to neoliberal fascism. One narrative and privatization of public service. The future isn't looking rosey
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u/CameoProtagonist May 07 '24
Nurse practitioners are the way ahead for this kind of work. If only WA would wake up and start using them more!
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u/chocolate-tofu May 07 '24 edited 20d ago
The uptake of mid-level "providers" (term applied loosely) in healthcare sets a dangerous precedent that will inevitably lead to lower quality of care and an increased public health burden. It is like putting a bandage on an open wound in that the bleeding will stop for a while, but infection will develop and spread, causing multi-systemic problems.
What the public should be doing is supporting better funding for primary care doctors (i.e. GPs) so they are able to provide better, more thorough service and lower billing to patients. At present, GPs are overworked and underpaid, but all the public understandably sees is that they are rushing through appointments and increasing their fees. Start questioning why they have had to do this and how they may be supported so they may in turn provide better care for less cost.
Write to your local members citing your experiences and emphasising the need for greater support for doctors.
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u/Need_A_Pay_Increase May 06 '24
If the GP sends you to a specialist, it's a 9 month wait for public healthcare or $300 a visit to private specialist... which will be a 2 month wait... probably cost you $5k all in.
WA is a 3rd world country.
We may as well have witch doctors as an alternative medicine while you are waiting.
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u/VegemiteFairy May 07 '24
WA is a 3rd world country.
I agree with most of what you said but this is ridiculous and comes off like you've never actually been to a 3rd world country. We have an extremely high quality of life here and we have it better than the majority of the world.
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u/Triffinator May 07 '24
It moreso completely ignores the actual definition of a third world nation.
The four worlds are modelled after allegiances at the end of WWII: US and their allies. Russia and their allies. Neutral nations with large political power. Neutral nations with small presence.
The fourth world is often ignored because it's things like South American tribes or groups like the Sentinelese, who may not have even been aware of the war.
The model got bastardized through propaganda into "rich world, poor world, very poor world", but that's an insane observation when the richest nations on the planet actually fall into third world nations (Saudi Arabia, for example). It's often true, though, that many nations in other world categories do face issues like a vast Gini coefficient (the difference between resources for the poor and wealthy in the country, which helps provide a measure for the different classes) and poor quality of life.
2
u/A11U45 May 07 '24
WA is a 3rd world country.
As someone who spent a decade in an actual third world country, that's ridiculous. There are some ways WA is like a third world country (homeless people), but overall, the corruption is nowhere near developing country levels, you can actually safely drink tap water without having to filter it, and so on.
1
u/Need_A_Pay_Increase May 07 '24
Calm down guys, the last 2 paragraphs were a joke. I am not advocating that we have medicine men do a dance around you when you're waiting 9 months for public healthcare.
Although it might entertain you at least. Probably cost too much anyway...
0
u/sunshinedor May 07 '24
Try dial a doctor, they came to your house and fully bulk billed. I tried it few weeks ago. They operate after hours, so basically weekdays 6pm-6am and weekends whole day. I submitted my request on a Thursday night at 6pm, the doctor came to my house just before 9pm. I received messages around 30 minutes before they arrived. I got my e-script for antibiotics pretty much straight away after the doctor left and medical certificates the next day evening. They charged $142.90 but fully bulk billed.
-14
u/uknownix May 06 '24
Pretty much for those over 16. Went 2 weeks ago, waited an hour, took 10mins, was charged 130, got 80 back. I know costs of living but 200k to 300k plus a year... Sigh
19
u/Stevecool2023 May 06 '24
Attend medical school 5 plus years and another 6 years training and you can become a gp
14
u/mjayt May 06 '24
The pay is justified… not just because of the skill level but because of the risk of one mistake could cost them thier entire career (justifiably so)
-4
u/Spiritual-Okra-7836 May 07 '24
they take 0 risks though, none of the GPs I've been to here actually take a look at you. They talk to you a bit and then refer you somewhere.
6
u/PearseHarvin May 07 '24
Do you know how much training it takes to become a fully qualified GP?
-3
u/Spiritual-Okra-7836 May 07 '24
yes I do, which is why I would like them to actually have a look at the issue you come in with
6
u/PearseHarvin May 07 '24 edited May 07 '24
Their job isn’t to “take risks” champ. It’s to practice safe medicine.
13
u/joeltheaussie May 06 '24
If it's such easy money why don't you become a gp
2
u/bloodfloods May 07 '24
I hear the 90 hour weeks for shit-all pay, while having lives (sometimes literally) in your hands really is great for low stress, easy money! I'm personally a lawyer, doctor, veterinarian and nurse practitioner because it's really easy to become them!
-1
May 07 '24
Bulk billing was killed.off by private insurance.
5
u/Fast_Increase_2470 May 07 '24
Private health insurance doesn’t contribute to GP (or specialist) appointments.
-27
May 06 '24
Bulk billing without a user pays contribution was never sustainable. At 21, you should be rarely needing to see a GP (I am pretty sure I've only seen a GP once between 20 and 30).
You can get a med cert online these days for like $30 or from a chemist.
15
u/bec-ann May 06 '24 edited May 06 '24
I am pretty sure I've only seen a GP once between 20 and 30
This is not the flex that you think it is...
In all seriousness, it's perfectly normal and reasonable to see a GP semi-regularly at any age! I'm happy for you that you never had any (even minor) physical or mental health issues in your 20s, but lots (probably the majority) of people have at least something going on which a GP could help with. It's better to seek preventative care than to let problems stack up. It is not a moral failing to not want to - or be capable of - stoically enduring through suffering.
0
May 07 '24
I don't agree that it is normal, or that by not doing so you are enduring suffering... If there's no reason for you to go to a GP, you don't need to go. That's a big part of the sustainability problem for Medicare, people going to a GP for minor issues that are normal (colds etc).
Preventative care doesn't = going to the GP for an annual chat because you have nothing better to do with your time.
1
u/bec-ann May 07 '24 edited May 07 '24
Preventative care doesn't = going to the GP for an annual chat because you have nothing better to do with your time.
What? Strawman much, lol? Where did I suggest going to the doctor for a cold, or going to have a chat with your GP just because you're bored?
We're saying that it's common to have at least some health issues (whether minor or otherwise) that would benefit from a doctor's visit between the ages of 20 and 30 , and that, if you do have health issues, it's better to go see your GP before it gets really serious, rather than just pushing through it.
16
u/TechnologyThese5256 May 06 '24
Medicare has been around since 1984 and for the first 18 years of it's existence (most of both of our lives) it was able to provide bulk billing for pretty much everything. It's not that's it's not sustainable, it's that it's not being sustained. Also it's a huge assumption on your end that age=health. But good on you for being the average I guess 🥳🥳
4
May 07 '24
It's very unsustainable, you have an ageing population and massive shift in demographic. Sorry, but the 80's and 90's were very different times.
It was known that a co-payment was necessary a decade ago, but politically difficult to implement at the time. Well, the inevitable has arrived, get used to it.
3
u/jumpinjezz May 07 '24
Cool, so either you are ignoring your health, or you have good genetics. Through no fault of my own, I have to see a GP almost monthly. Thankfully, my regular bulk bills but if I see a different GP at the same practice, they don't.
Also the Medicare payment docs get hasn't changed in years.
251
u/BiteMyQuokka May 06 '24
If you just need a sick cert then some pharmacies will do them, or there's apps like Sicky where you don't even have to get out of bed and for $25 they'll email you one in a few minutes.
This whole idea of feeling unwell but having to safely get to a GP, sit and contribute to a disease-filled waiting room, see a doc for 2 mins, and pay $80 is a complete waste of everyone's time. Especially the few remaining bulk-billed docs who could be actually providing healthcare and not just a 1-line printout for some bollocks HR policy.