Thousands sign petition defending GPs co-claiming mental health items
Doctor behind the campaign says threatening DoH letters could deter GPs from offering treatment to vulnerable patients
Thousands of people have signed an online petition to demand health officials retract the letter-writing campaign against GPs co-claiming attendances with mental health treatment items.
Last week, the Department of Health wrote to 341 GPs asking them to explain why they were claiming the items together so frequently on the same day.
The letters suggested the GPs “may not be meeting the MBS requirements” and came with forms for making voluntary repayments to Medicare.
“If you identify any incorrect payments, you must repay these to the department along with any associated incentive payments,” they added.
