GP clinic offering refunds after backlash over $250 Covid vaccine “consultation” charge

A GP clinic in south-western Sydney which was heavily criticised for charging patients $250 to get the Covid vaccine is now offering refunds.

A Sydney GP clinic that was charging patients hundreds of dollars to get the Covid-19 vaccine is offering refunds after health authorities said they would be investigating the practice.

Blessed Health Care in Campsie was charging non-Medicare patients up to $250 for a “consultation fee” before administering the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine and the second dose consultation fee was being billed at up to $120.

After intense backlash from the local community – which is among the worst affected local government areas – a receptionist confirmed that refunds were being issued.

Blessed Health Care Centre, in Campsie, is now issuing refunds to patients. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“If you had Pfizer and you think you are eligible for a refund, provide us with your phone number and name and our accountant will be in touch to discuss your eligibility for a refund,” the receptionist said.

Messages sent to patients that were seen by The Daily Telegraph showed the clinic asking patients for their bank account details so refunds could be processed.

“If you have paid for the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine in our clinic, we will refund you by electronic transfer,” the message read.

Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Karen Price said the backflip was the “appropriate thing to do”.

She advised any GP clinics that had an influx of non-Medicare eligible patients to refer those patients to the government-run vaccination hubs instead of charging them.

The centre was charging more than $300 for two shots of the Pfizer jab. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“I imagine they’ve had some feedback that it wasn’t allowed and are now doing the appropriate thing. It possibly could have been an unintentional interpretation of the rules since Medicare is written in legislative language,” she said.

“(For) patients who don’t have access to Medicare, if you can’t put them throughout GP practice because there are so many in your area, then the state hubs have provision to process them so it may be a case of referring them elsewhere.”

A Federal Department of Health spokeswoman said the government was working to get people’s money back.

“The National Covid Vaccine Taskforce (NCVTF) will work with General Practices and any affected patients to ensure they are reimbursed for their out of pocket expenses,” the spokeswoman said.

“The NCVTF reserves the right to review (pause) and/or withdraw any practices from the Program where suspected non-compliance.

“Practices or practitioners who bill patients inappropriately may be subject to compliance action.”

Attempts were made to contact the clinic for comment.