There is a gaping chasm between the Federal Government’s words and its actions on the practice of charging membership fees in return for bulk-billing — and it’s no surprise GPs are frustrated.

On one side, there is a growing number of organisations, like the National Health Co-op in the ACT, openly charging annual membership fees for bulk-billed care.

On the other is the ­Department of Health, which tells GPs they mustn’t follow suit because they would be breaking the law.

The department points to section 20A of the Health Insurance Act 1973, which says doctors can only bulk-bill if they accept the rebate as “full payment of the medical expenses incurred in respect of the professional service”.