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Feet-first through the doughnut.

Leave your scans to the experts: An idiot’s guide to doing the stupid thing

I am not a doctor. This is one of many reasons why. This is the story of a number, the angst it caused and the idiot who didn’t know what it meant.

  • Cameron Atfield

Latest

Specialist fees have skyrocketed. 

Five graphs that show how the cost of seeing a doctor has skyrocketed

Australians are now paying more than $600 out-of-pocket for some specialist appointments. A new study shows who it’s affecting the most.

  • Angus Thomson
Regular health checks as you age ensure potentially serious conditions can be treated early.

Living better for longer: The health checks for your 40s, 50s and beyond

As life expectancy for Australians stretches into the 80s, focus is shifting from quantity to quality of life. The key to staying well for longer? Staying ahead of the game with regular check-ins. Here’s what you need to know.

  • Shona Hendley
Neridah Armstrong with her son Andrew, who has ADHD and like many patients, faced lengthy waits to see a specialist.

Neridah’s son had to ration his medication. These changes will stop that

Families often face months or even years to see specialists for a diagnosis, but changes for GPs in NSW will be a “game-changer” for thousands of children.

  • Alexandra Smith
METROS: Anthony Albanese and Labor Medicare feature.

Albanese sold his big health promise to the people. The fight isn’t over yet

With bulk-billing in freefall, Anthony Albanese will need to defy gravity to avoid angering voters promised more free visits to the GP.

  • Angus Thomson
Sydney woman Luan Lawrenson-Woods paid $30,000 in out-of-pocket fees for surgeries and treatment related to breast cancer despite having private health insurance.

One in five patients skip treatment due to out-of-pocket costs

The survey also found 40 per cent of private hospital patients were being slugged with out-of-pocket specialist fees of more than $1000 – and many weren’t informed of all costs in advance.

  • Broede Carmody and Henrietta Cook
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Bulk billing

GPs believe this one change to bulk-billing could save Australians $42 a visit

Analysis suggests that extending bulk-billing incentives to under-35s would save young people $42 a visit in average doctor’s fees, while preventing 9000 hospitalisations.

  • Natassia Chrysanthos
Jean Hailes for Women’s Health chief executive, Sarah White, is among the Australian women’s health experts warning menopause influencers are making claims about the powers of novel hormone treatment that are not supported by data.

College of GPs pulls support from menopause event as experts criticise influencer claims

The college said the So Hot Right Now conference, where the headline speaker is high-profile British GP Louise Newson, was no longer deemed eligible to be credited as professional development for GPs.

  • Wendy Tuohy
14/11/24 Generic signage showing Bulk Billing services. Photograph by Chris Hopkins

The Sydney suburbs missing out on free GP visits

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said the collapse of bulk-billing was putting pressure on the state’s hospitals and urged the federal government to prioritise Medicare reform.

  • Angus Thomson
Index composite for story on human metapneumovirus

This virus is surging in China. In NSW, it’s already passed

Cases of human metapneumovirus have declined in NSW, while health authorities continue to monitor elevated COVID infections over the festive period.

  • Angus Thomson

Original URL: https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/topic/gps-5xy