Govt ends mandatory bulk-billing for GP telehealth – but there’s a catch
Private billing is allowed for the temporary MBS items unless patients are concession card holders or deemed 'susceptible' to COVID-19
GPs can now charge private fees for Medicare-funded phone and video consults, but bulk-billing will remain mandatory for millions of patients, including those with chronic conditions and parents with young children.
The Department of Health says that as of this Monday, private billing will be allowed for the dozens of temporary telehealth items added to the MBS to combat coronavirus.
But patients with concession cards or aged under 16 will have to be bulk-billed, along with those deemed by Medicare to be ‘more susceptible’ to COVID-19.
This includes all patients under treatment for a chronic health condition, anyone with an immune deficiency and expectant mothers.
