Difference between bulk billing and a private billing GP

Have you ever been bulk-billed by your GP and wondered why? Or maybe you’ve asked your GP to bulk bill you and they didn’t? In today’s environment, it’s not possible to bulk bill every patient. We have given a great deal of consideration to who is eligible to be bulk billed.

If our patients need to access quality health care but can’t afford it, we will bulk bill them. Access Health & Community pride ourselves on delivering the best quality community health care. Bulk billing is available for people who have a valid Medicare card and are:

• Pensioners
• Health care cardholders (except Commonwealth Seniors Health Card)
• Children under 16 years old
• Aboriginal and or Torres Strait Islander Peoples
• Asylum seekers and refugees

If your card has expired, we aren’t able to bulk bill you.

Access Health & Community is a private billing medical practice. This is also known as a mixed billing clinic. If your GP hasn’t bulk billed you, full payment of the consultation fee needs to be paid on that day. The gap between your Medicare rebate and the consultation charge is the out of pocket amount. With on the spot processing, the Medicare rebate goes into your bank account right away.

What is bulk billing?

In 1984, the Australian government introduced Medicare; a government-operated and compulsory health insurance scheme. Medicare aims to give every Australian access to efficient and fair health insurance. A levy on eligible Australians tax returns (known as the Medicare levy) funds Medicare. All Australians can claim the Medicare rebate for eligible medical services.

How is this relevant to bulk billing?
A visit to a GP attracts a service fee. If the standard consultation is $87.85 and the Medicare rebate is $42.85, you only need to pay $45.00.

If you are bulk billed, the GP has decided to accept only the Medicare rebate for the service. When you are bulk billed, the GP gets paid less for their services. To ensure all our patients can access quality health care, we have chosen to absorb this.

We provide the highest standard of medical and health care in our community. Some consultations including occupational and WorkCover aren’t covered by Medicare. They need to be paid in full.

As a mixed billing medical clinic, we provide first-class care to every patient. Our services include:

• Allied Health care
• Mental Health care
• Alcohol and Drug Programs
• Diabetes education
• Psychology services

Since 2016 we have been a registered NDIS Service Provider for the NDIS. We are here to help you and your family navigate the sometimes complicated NDIS system. Find out more about Access Health & Community fees and payments.

Where is the best Community Health provider in Melbourne?

We are a mixed billing medical clinic that provides high-quality health services. If patients are experiencing financial or social disadvantages, we offer bulk billing appointments for Richmond Doctors and Hawthorn Doctors. Other patients get a percentage of their medical consultation paid by Medicare. The outstanding amount is paid ‘out of pocket’ by the patient.

Many GP’s in our team are fluent in languages other than English. They also donate their time and perform regular pro bono medical work. Book an appointment online or call our friendly and helpful team 9810 3000