If I have to pay to see the GP

[donnashuggy]

I might just take a bit longer and get my moneys worth.

Usually I am aware of people waiting (but there will be less of them apparently) so I can take my time 🙂

[catsnknots]

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@azureline** wrote:

Which reminds me, I have a bill here from QML to pay, for my FIL who is the nursing home as it can't be bulk billed. Not sure why

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Pay the bill and take it to Medicare... that should cover the costs. 

Call QML and ask them why it can't be bulkbilled. Mostly it will be because the form has originated from a Dr at a hospital and QML is a private company. Often the Dr has not put their provider number on the form and that is all it is. Some of the time it is becuase the test requested is not a bulk billed test but that is in fact very rare. 

[lakeland27]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@lakeland27 wrote:

the people i see when i go have children. its them and pensioners mostly in the waiting room. he'll be losing both.

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From what I know pensioners and people with a health care card will be exempt from the fee .... or don't you read the leaks???? 

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 people with children and no health care card ? like most ?  i don't neccessarily believe the 'leaks'  which are often selective and plain wrong.

[freddie*rooster]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@lakeland27 wrote:

the people i see when i go have children. its them and pensioners mostly in the waiting room. he'll be losing both.

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From what I know pensioners and people with a health care card will be exempt from the fee .... or don't you read the leaks???? 

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This will noly apply if there is a Doctor in the area you happen to live in who bulk bills, or if you are not requiring to see a Specialist who charge what they want to.

[lloydslights]

I'm trying to get my head around $600 for a blood test that is charged to the govt.

I understand the use of a courier, his car, the nurse that takes the sample, the lab technician, some lab machinery, insurance, record keeping and the building in which this is performed. However, most of this is in multiple samples at a time, isn't it?  

Is the govt being overcharged?  Due to "the govt will pay" attitude?   In a business, our profit margins reflect what a customer is prepared to pay for goods and services.  Is the govt. prepared to pay too much on our behalf? 

DEB

[freddie*rooster]

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@catsnknots wrote:

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@azureline** wrote:

Which reminds me, I have a bill here from QML to pay, for my FIL who is the nursing home as it can't be bulk billed. Not sure why

---

Pay the bill and take it to Medicare... that should cover the costs. 

Call QML and ask them why it can't be bulkbilled. Mostly it will be because the form has originated from a Dr at a hospital and QML is a private company. Often the Dr has not put their provider number on the form and that is all it is. Some of the time it is becuase the test requested is not a bulk billed test but that is in fact very rare. 

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No it's not very rare, I paid out of pocket about $800 for my radiation, and yes I am on a helath care card.

[lakeland27]

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@lloydslights wrote:

I'm trying to get my head around $600 for a blood test that is charged to the govt.

I understand the use of a courier, his car, the nurse that takes the sample, the lab technician, some lab machinery, insurance, record keeping and the building in which this is performed. However, most of this is in multiple samples at a time, isn't it?  

Is the govt being overcharged?  Due to "the govt will pay" attitude?   In a business, our profit margins reflect what a customer is prepared to pay for goods and services.  Is the govt. prepared to pay too much on our behalf? 

DEB

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 one of my sisters used to run gribbles head office in Adelaide, conversations i've had with her over the years back up your thoughts on the matter.

[freakiness]

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@catsnknots wrote:

I laugh when people say "oh I pay the medicare levy" as if that covers the cost of their health care.

We all need to pay a bit more to maintain the services we get... 

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The thing is that most of us don't very often use the medical services our medicare levies pay.  

Of the millions of people who pay into medicare most don't require medical services regularly so the contributions go to cover everyone who does need medical care. That's how it works.

[j*oono]

Exactly Freaki.  I ended up needing some big help but up until that time I had probably only seen a doctor half a dozen times (if that)  in 15 years.

[catsnknots]

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@lloydslights wrote:

I'm trying to get my head around $600 for a blood test that is charged to the govt.

I understand the use of a courier, his car, the nurse that takes the sample, the lab technician, some lab machinery, insurance, record keeping and the building in which this is performed. However, most of this is in multiple samples at a time, isn't it?  

Is the govt being overcharged?  Due to "the govt will pay" attitude?   In a business, our profit margins reflect what a customer is prepared to pay for goods and services.  Is the govt. prepared to pay too much on our behalf? 

DEB

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These tests might be genetic testing or they might be tests that have been developed by a private company and copyrighted. 

They might also have to be sent to the other side of the country or the other side of the world... Lyme disease for example... you get a basic one here but as we don't officially have lyme disease here the best one is in America. That you actually have to pay for privately and nothing comes back from Medicare but it is an example of how some tests get sent OS. 

There are also reagents and machines that need to be set up for these tests..... 

lots of reasons. 

[azureline**]

Thanks Cat! I called QML who said it was because they didn't get a medicare number at collection. I had already paid it this morning, so they will send a receipt so I can claim it back on medicare. Should have been bulk billed.