GPs Under Pressure
As a busy mum who is raising four kids, visiting a bulk-billing doctor (usually after hours) makes financial sense to me. The tightening of my purse strings has been mirrored by the Australian public, with the volume of bulk billed, patient accessed, GP services rising by 4.9% last financial year. This trend shows no signs of slowing down and, as a result, the increased service demand on GPs who bulk bill is now being scrutinised by the Department of Health (DoH). Around 550 GPs and 70 practice managers across Australia will be notified by mail about Medicare’s Prescribed Pattern of Services compliance rules (or as it is known, the ‘80/20 rule’).
The news has not been received well by doctors around Australia. Supported by Julian Burnside QC and David Dahm, CEO of Health and Life Pty Ltd, GP Registrar, Dr Anchita Karmakar has launched a High Court Challenge, citing the DoH’s process as "dangerous without due process". Dr Karmakar has set up a GoFundMe page to raise money for legal costs which has the support of many Australians who are seeking a “better, fairer, simpler and safer healthcare system”.
Is it fair that our GPs billings are being scrutinised under a microscope? A study conducted by the British Medical Journal[i] found that 70% of stakeholders who educate medical practitioners regarding clinical practice did not offer/have never offered a medical billing course. 89% of stakeholders agreed that given the complexity of Australia’s medical billing system, it should be taught.
The DoH’s debt recovery process is not only causing "Medicare Audit Anxiety" amongst primary healthcare professionals (who are already in short supply), but it is also putting under-serviced communities around Australia at risk by restricting GPs capabilities and marginalising GPs who sub-specialise.
Members of the general public that would like to support Australia’s primary healthcare professional can complete a survey that will be used in evidence at the High Court public interest application:
Doctors, providers and practice staff can also take part anonymously by completing the following surveys: Medicare Item Complexity and To Bill or not to Bill- Doctor’s right to earn a living
[i] Faux M, Wardle J, Thompson-Butel AG, et al Who teaches medical billing? A national cross-sectional survey of Australian medical education stakeholders BMJ Open 2018;8:e020712. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-020712
