Medical practices in the Aston electorate are the subject of alleged bulk billing incidents that would be in breach of the health insurance act for overcharging patients to guarantee services.
Federal Member for Aston Mary Doyle MP released a statement on Tuesday 8 October uring people in the Aston electorate to report any overcharging activity to their local MP.
Ms Doyle said recently it was brought to her attention that some of her constituents in Aston were charged an upfront ‘co-payment’ by a medical practice to guarantee subsequent bulk billed consultations for the remainder of the year.
“I want to reassure my constituents that this practice is unlawful, and if anyone hears of this happening, whether in this electorate or elsewhere, please let me or your local Federal Member know,” she said.
“A medical practice cannot charge an annual membership, administration/registration fee or co-payment to guarantee a patient bulk billed services – this would be a breach of the Health Insurance Act.”
Ms Doyle said the Health Minister, the Hon. Mark Butler, has asked his department to investigate this urgently and take action to protect patients from overcharging.
“Our government has made the biggest investments in bulk billing in the history of Medicare, and I don’t want it to be eroded by practices using illegal subscription services,” she said.
“When a patient is bulk billed by their medical practitioner, they should have no further out of pocket costs.”
