Medicare bulk-billing changes will lead to reduced services, doctors warn

Bulk billing of children and pensioners, as well as home visits to elderly and dying patients, could be scrapped in outer metro areas across Australia because of cuts which doctors say they will not be able to afford. Key points: The bulk-billing incentive will be reduced in some areas from about $10 to $6 from next year Doctors say they could be forced to scrap bulk billing in outer metro areas The health department says the changes will make the system fairer for rural patients An incoming change to bulk-billing incentives has pushed GPs to breaking point, medical groups have warned, requiring them to provide crucial primary health services for less than the cost of a barber's cut. GPs who don't bulk bill charge a fee higher than the Medicare schedule fee, meaning patients must pay the difference between the schedule fee and the doctor's fee — out of their own pocket. "The research does show people will think twice about going to a doctor when they have to pay but that's beyond our control now because the primary care system is not being funded to enable us to continue bulk billing," Dr Byrne said. Dr Nespolon said the Medicare rebate freeze had cost general practice about $1 billion and called for that money to be reinstated to "the most important part of the healthcare system".