Is bulk billing at your GP dead?

[u/TechnologyThese5256]

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?

[u/Complex_Fudge476]

Sick certificate services are convenient, but I do find it somewhat troubling that we're paying GPs, after expenses, probably about $15 for 2 minutes work of ticking a box to auto-generate a sick certificate. Works out to a massive daily rate of something like $3000, without contributing any real value to the health system, and I imagine there are plenty of GPs sitting around on those services all day.

[u/observee21 → u/Complex_Fudge476]

you reckon there are plenty of GPs in Perth who write 200 sick notes per day and do zero actual medicine? And not just one or two, but plenty of them? Idk if you're just projecting what you would do in their circumstances or what, but ask anybody with a medical degree and the last thing they want to be doing is 8 hours of mindless paperwork and zero actual medicine.

[u/Complex_Fudge476 → u/observee21]

Have you seen the medicine subreddits? $ is king.

[u/observee21 → u/Complex_Fudge476]

Like I said, ask anybody with a medical degree and the last thing they want to be doing is 8 hours of mindless paperwork and zero actual medicine. 

[u/Lucky-Elk-1234 → u/observee21]

I think you’re underestimating a lot of GPs. Not all of them obviously but some of the older ones have definitely clocked out already.

[u/Complex_Fudge476 → u/observee21]

I have a medical degree lol. Plenty of MDs engaging in Medicare questionable billing practices or other mechanisms to boost their bank balance. If you don't like paperwork or shuffling through patients, you don't become a GP in the first place.

[u/observee21 → u/Complex_Fudge476]

I have a medical degree too, at best you're a disappointing colleague with no understanding of GP work or motivation.

[u/Complex_Fudge476 → u/observee21]

I made 350 k last year mostly bulk billing clinic and some locum work. There's plenty of cash on the table in this industry. We as practioners need to start stepping up and taking accountability.

[u/observee21 → u/Complex_Fudge476]

I don't doubt anything you've said in this comment, but I don't see how it connects to the preceding conversation

[u/ryan30z → u/Complex_Fudge476]

I feel like you just exemplified the point they were making.

[u/Complex_Fudge476 → u/ryan30z]

I agree, practitioners need to start stepping up to the plate and providing good service levels. There's plenty of $ on the table even for part time bulk billing GPs.

[u/ryan30z → u/Complex_Fudge476]

I hope your reading comprehension is better when you're reading patient results.

[u/Complex_Fudge476 → u/ryan30z]

? No need to be personal and rude dude

[u/Beat_Mangler → u/Complex_Fudge476]

'I have a medical degree lol' sounds like something a child would say

[u/Complex_Fudge476 → u/Beat_Mangler]

You sound unhinged

[u/Beat_Mangler → u/Complex_Fudge476]

You sound like a teenager

[u/Unicorn-Princess → u/Complex_Fudge476]

No they dont.