Bulk billed radiology scrapped — but only in regional areas

The city-country health divide continues to widen with a major radiology provider scrapping bulk billing at its regional clinics for patients without concession cards. See the gap fees.

Leading medical imaging company Jones Radiology is dumping bulk billing — but only for regional patients.

Pensioners and concession card holders will continue to be bulk billed and hardship cases may be given a 50 per cent discount.

However amid cost of living pressures other patients at regional clinics face gap fees of from “around $40 to several hundred dollars” according to officials, with the company saying the fees are needed to keep clinics open.

A letter to doctors says the company understands the decision “may cause concerns” but they have carefully considered it to ensure ongoing viability of services.

“Due to the increased cost to provide radiology services in regional areas, we will no longer be able to honour requests to bulk bill examinations from 1 July 2024,” it states.

“For patients under financial hardship where you would usually request bulk bill, we will discount the gap by 50 per cent for that examination.

“Our current billing policy for pensioners and concession card holders remains unchanged; we routinely bulk bill these patients, excluding obstetric ultrasound, screening procedures and ultrasound guided FNA’s and biopsies where we charge a reduced gap.”

Jones Radiology has clinics at major regional centres across South Australia including Whyalla, Yorketown, Port Augusta, Port Lincoln, Ceduna and Wallaroo, giving residents in these areas easy access to services close to their homes.

They are also at Victor Harbor, Goolwa and Kingscote but these sites are not affected by the change.

Company spokesman Chris Ogilvie told The Advertiser it was a difficult choice but would ensure regional services stayed viable.
“It is due to business costs but also the difficulty of keeping staff and cost of sending staff to regional clinics — flights have been cancelled at short notice,” he said.

“We are committed to providing services.”

AMA (SA) president Dr John Williams. Picture: AMA

The decision comes at the same time as the state government’s new payroll tax grab on GP clinics will increase gap fees by around $10, according to the Australian Medical Association.

Both developments are expected to put further pressure on embattled hospital emergency departments, with people opting for “free” hospital care regardless of long waiting times or delaying treatment until it becomes so serious it becomes a hospital emergency.

The government has exempted bulk billed services from the payroll tax, which is being imposed after a court decision in NSW deemed contractor GPs at clinics as employees even though they are not paid a salary.

AMA state president Dr John Williams said of the payroll tax: “The reality is most practices simply can’t afford the additional burden. To keep treating our patients, we have to raise our fees.

“It’s increase the cost of consultations, or close down. We know if people don’t receive primary care when they need it, they become sicker and end up seeking desperately needed treatment from emergency departments.

“This will exacerbate ambulance ramping and create even more delays to essential surgeries.”