Medicare items: Make ‘after hours’ start at 6pm, says AMA
Why does the after hours clock for GPs start ticking at 8pm when they are in the surgery but two hours earlier for home visits?
The AMA has called out a Medicare “anomaly” that means ‘after-hours’ rebates kick in earlier for home visits than for consultations at a practice.
Under MBS rules, GPs can claim after-hours rebates for home visits (worth $77.30 for a standard consult) from 6pm on weekdays but can only claim after-hours rebates for consults at the surgery (worth $50.55) after 8pm.
“This creates an anomaly and unfair situation where, for example, a deputising service can provide an after-hours consultation at a higher fee from 6pm on a Monday to Friday night but a GP cannot unless they leave their consulting rooms,” the AMA says.
“This discourages practices from opening extended hours.”
