Govt finally tries to fix ‘overly complex’ paperwork for bulk-billed telehealth consults
Draft laws would allow patients to give consent to bulk-billing for future consultations.
The Federal Government has finally started tackling the archaic paperwork rules for documenting consent for bulk-billed telehealth consults.
Last September, health officials told GPs that telehealth patients must give explicit consent to be bulk-billed, and if they did so verbally, GPs must complete an “approved form”, write “verbal consent obtained” on it, and send it to the patient by email or text.
It caused widespread anger among GPs, with many threatening to stop bulk-billing telehealth appointments in protest.
Former RACGP president Dr Karen Price called it “the most ridiculous thing yet from the bureau-crazy.”
