GPs will be ‘held to ransom’ if government kills gap-only billing
The Federal Government is hoping patients who benefit from gap-billing will switch to bulk-billing if the proposed changes go ahead.
The Federal Government is being warned its move to effectively end gap-only billing for GPs will hit vulnerable patients hardest.
Under a system ridiculed as an exercise in wilful red tape, doctors can currently opt to charge a patient just the gap, usually because they have limited means to cover the full cost upfront.
Medicare then posts a paper cheque to the patient covering the MBS rebate for the service which the patient then posts it to the practice.
If the practice does not receive the cheque after 90 days, Medicare will transfer the rebate electronically.
