‘$600 for a 10-minute diagnosis’: GP says patients are fighting for ADHD care
Have your patients also struggled to get an ADHD assessment? AusDoc wants to hear your stories.
Patients with ADHD are paying hundreds of dollars for a psychiatrist diagnosis while others are missing out on timely access to stimulants because of GP prescribing restrictions.
GP Dr Elana Roseth says not all of her patients make it onto psychiatrist waitlists, and even when they do, many struggle to afford the high out-of-pocket fees.
Her comments follow calls from the RACGP for consistent rules across Australia that allow to GPs diagnose and treat ADHD, and ending the “postcode lottery” for patients.
“My patients tell me they are being charged up to $600 for an appointment with a psychiatrist, and the diagnosis is sometimes being made in 10 minutes,” says Dr Roseth, who practises on the Northern Beaches, Sydney.
