Does Butler’s budget billions mean I will return to bulk-billing? Here’s my answer…

Dr Paul Muthiah.
Dr Paul Muthiah.

Last year, I changed my fee schedule and moved away from mixed billing to an almost entirely private billing model.

I was not alone. Other doctors did the same.

It was a massive change for me. Some patients had been with me for 10 years. I’d always bulk-billed them. Having that conversation with them was a daunting prospect.

But necessity brought about the change. It was unviable to continue disrespecting myself any longer.