Health: Eastern suburbs medical centres to cut bulk billing services

Eastern suburbs patients have been left with the bill as a growing number of centres slash bulk billing amid rising costs. See where here.

Marilyn Eccles said she was shocked when she was told she would need to pay $90 upfront for her visit to the Darlinghurst Medical Centre.

“I was actually really upset,” the Elizabeth Bay resident told the Wentworth Courier.

“I‘ve had quite a few bills recently and I thought, ‘my gosh, if I hadn’t had my credit cards there I would have had to go somewhere else’.”

But Ms Eccles said it would have been almost impossible to find another medical centre at short notice.

“I was desperately in need of medical attention, so you know, I really felt sort of trapped in.”

Ms Eccles is among a group of residents in the eastern suburbs who say they have been blindsided by a raft of medical centres halting bulk billing services — which allow patients to fully reimburse their visit through Medicare — in recent weeks.

Elizabeth Bay resident Marilyn Eccles says she wouldn’t have been able to cover the cost of her visit if she hadn’t brought her credit card.

Experts say while rising costs are straining the budgets of medical centres across the country, those located in more affluent areas are more likely to increase costs because the majority of their patients will still be able to pay.

Darlinghurst Medical Centre will continue to offer bulk billing for concession cardholders, veterans and patients over the age of 75.

Another major medical centre, Bondi Junction 7 Day Medical Centre, will adopt the same rules in mid-June.

Bondi Junction Medical Centre will stop bulk billing from mid-June this year.

But Ms Eccles, who manages several medical conditions including diabetes, works full-time and isn’t eligible for a concession card.

After paying the upfront costs, Ms Eccles said she received a $51 rebate in her account two days later. The upfront cost and $39 payment for a visit to her doctor was still a big hit to her budget.

Ms Eccles said she felt blindsided by the changes.

“I thought we were going to have a lot more notice and be told when [I] ran out to make the appointment,” she said.

Stephen Mason, CEO of the non-profit patient advocacy group the Australian Patients Association (APA), told the Wentworth Courier increased costs in running medical centres in the past few years had not been matched by Medicare.

“A lot of clinics are saying the rebate from the government hasn‘t been increased for quite a few years,” Mr Mason said.

“So they‘ve made some policy decisions now [where] in the areas where they’ve got a bit of discretion …[they are thinking], let’s chip away at the margins. They just chip away at the edge,” he said.

Mr Mason said internal research showed in wealthier areas people told them they would continue to visit their medical centre even if a co-payment system was introduced.

“It‘s not going to affect everyone,” he said. “But those who it does affect will be in an awkward position where they’re going to have to choose between visits to the doctor,” he said.

Mr Mason also suggested the changes may have been put in place to pressure the newly-elected Labor government to look at the Medicare rebate.

“It could be an opportunity to put a bit of pressure on the new government … because we know, the AMA (Australian Medical Association) [has] wanted rebate increases, saying it‘s not sufficient to cover the costs.”

“By reducing bulk billings [that] puts a bit of pressure on the new government to look at the rates and increase [them].”

The Department of Health told the Wentworth Courier GPs and their practices operate as private businesses and are free to determine the value of their service, including whether they bulk bill some or all of their patients, or charge a co-payment.

“The Medical Board of Australia, which regulates all doctors and their professional practice, has established a Code of Conduct for Australian doctors, including GPs,”

“This states that good medical practice involves … ensuring your patients are informed about your fees and charges in a timely manner to enable them to make an informed decision about whether they want to proceed with consultations and treatment.”

Ms Eccles says she is looking for a new doctor after visiting the medical centres for 30 years.

Ms Eccles told the Wentworth Courier she was looking for a new medical practice in the area that bulk billed, despite using the Darlinghurst centre for nearly 30 years.

“I‘ve been going for a long time. And I’ve had a few different doctors there, but they’ve all been women who I’ve really felt very comfortable with and trusted.”

“It‘s just that kind of it’s almost a betrayal in some ways,” Ms Eccles said.

She said she’s disappointed about the bind she was placed in when she discovered she was no longer able to use bulk billing.

“But I just think that it was very badly handled that there was no notification to the community. I don‘t know why that is, but maybe they just didn’t want to let people know and just find out for themselves.”

“It’s disgraceful that the community has been more notified or more prepared.”

Both centres were contacted for comment.