GP corporate giant edges away from universal bulk-billing
Once known as Primary Health Care, bulk-billing will remain the norm at the corporate but it's CEO says some of its GPs are charging $70 for a standard consult
One of Australia’s GP corporate giants is moving away from universal bulk-billing, with its CEO declaring senior doctors and those practising in affluent areas are free to set their own fees.
Formerly called Primary Health Care, the company was renamed Healius before it was split, with its medical centres sold to private equity in a $500-million deal two years ago.
As Primary Health Care, it was known for big-box clinics, where GPs took no appointments but offered extended hours and walk-in, bulk-billed care to anyone with a Medicare card.
The company’s current CEO, Andrew Cohen, said the decision to allow some doctors to charge out-of-pocket fees had been driven by the 1000 GPs it contracts.
