One of Canberra’s last surviving bulk-billing clinics enters administration
The Interchange Health Co-operative served around 5000 patients, many of whom were among the most vulnerable in Canberra.
A GP practice that universally bulk-billed patients has entered voluntary administration after struggling to fill GP vacancies or cover its costs.
The Interchange Health Co-operative (IHCO), which had about 5000 patients on its book, said on Monday that appointing administrators was the “only responsible choice” it had left.
It had relied on Medicare rebates, a handful of government grants and annual membership fees of $60 or $120 — a controversial funding approach with history in Canberra.
An “intensive recruitment program” over several months had failed to fill vacancies and increase GP numbers, the clinic’s statement said.
