Some GP's offer bulk billing when they usually don't in the case of your direct family are doctor(s), can't seem to find any in Sydney that honour this, or is it just a Brisbane thing?
Bulk Billing for GP Patients Whose Family Are Doctors in NSW?
Fat Horny Ghost on 16/04/2023 - 19:29
Last edited 17/04/2023 - 07:15 by 1 other user
Last edited 17/04/2023 - 07:15 by 1 other user
Comments
I think OP has a doctor in the family and OP has visited a (non-relation) doctor in Brisbane who gives them mates rates/bulk billing because of this.
They are looking for a doctor in Sydney to do the same even though they would have NFI who OP's relo is. :)
I didn't try to understand the question.
OP says in Brisbane a doctor will bulk bill you if you have a family member who is also a doctor.
Doctors can choose to bulk bill at their discretion. You'd probably want to be unemployed to ask without offending though, kinda cheeky to not pay the gap when you have a job. If your dad is a doctor then you probably can afford to pay tbh, plus you're probably under his top tier family plan health insurance anyway.
The OP want's Mates Rates on a GP?? Tell 'em he's dreamin'
Generally they know who you are via your parents, otherwise you need to be a health professional or doctor yourself.
Just saying, “my uncle is a doctor” randomly during the consult isn’t going to do it.
Yeah this would be awkward lol.
"My uncle's a doctor"
"…okay? Go to your uncle"
Nah man, mates rates only apply if you are actually mates.
So you want mates rate from a doctor who's not your relative or mate because you happen to be related to a doctor? Even if that's a thing, what stops anyone from claiming their relative is a doctor?
I wonder if that works with other professions?
Bulk billing is a payment option under the Medicare system in Australia, where a medical practitioner accepts the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) fee as full payment for their service. This means that patients do not have to pay out of their own pockets, as the government covers the cost of the service.
While some medical practitioners may offer bulk billing discounts to patients who are doctors or have family members who are doctors, it is not a widely advertised or standard practice in Australia. It ultimately depends on the discretion of the individual medical practitioner and their practice policies.
If you are looking for a GP who offers bulk billing in Sydney, you may want to try searching online for bulk billing practices in your area or contacting your local medical center for more information. It is also important to note that some medical practices may offer bulk billing for certain types of consultations or specific patient groups, such as children, concession card holders, or patients with chronic medical conditions.
— Dr. guess Who? :)
"This means that patients do not have to pay out of their own pockets, as the government covers the cost of the service."
Nope, the PATIENT(s) pay for it via their medicare deductions, or other taxpayers do, it is only mediated by government.
The quote doesn't say they don't pay for it, it says they don't pay 'out of pocket' i.e., it doesnt come directly from their wallet but gets paid via a different mechanism.
You can theoretically have a consultation charged at or below the medicare rebate amount, but the practice doesn't put it through to medicare for you. You would have to pay then put in the claim yourself and would receive the all money back from medicare. This is the same net result - its gets paid by Medicare but there is the intermediate step of it coming out of your pocket in the middle.
Just use the secret handshake
.Is that the one where YOU give the GP a prostate exam??
if you aren't a Doctor yourself and you have no relation to said GP in Sydney, they probably won't bulk bill you.
or is it just a Brisbane thing?
A phrase used to cover a lot of weird stuff nobody in the normal world has heard about.
If someone in your immediate family is a GP, why do you need to go see another GP?
Big Doctor Energy
They can't treat family or relatives due to ethics, so usually have this honor system
Is it your immediate family though?
Fair enough.
They may not be your treating doctor officially, but they can certainly help to eliminate a lot of unnecessary GP visits.
In Sydney, all the bulk-billing doctors are in the western suburbs, if that's what you're looking for.Yep immediate family members. Don't live in western Sydney unfortunately. The ones in china don't follow these ethics closely but here they do.
Most usual bulk billed places are also terrible churners. About $40-60 out of pocket for one visit nearby one which ends up costly if I go often like I used to for any small usual things.
Kinda sucks and is awkward to bring up the convo as some of them plainly reject it.
@Fat Horny Ghost: As in it’s your mum, dad, husband or wife that’s the doctor? I think these are the only relationships that would count for this. Generally I think if it’s your parents they would call and book for you and and your parents would know the other doctor. It’s a much bigger world these days, so unless you live in a small town, tight knit community or your relative is renowned, you wouldn’t get bulk billed. I think it’s also if you’re younger like in your 20s max.
One strategy would be mentioning your relative’s advice on whatever the issue is during the the consult. Eg “my mum said I should get my blood pressure checked because we have a history of strokes in the family, she’s a GP, but I don’t like using my mum as my doctor”. But I don’t think most GPs will give much thought to it and apply their standard fee.
I’m a health professional, but not a doctor and most specialists if not all, bulk bill me. Asking what my profession is, is generally part of the consult and most the specialists have a connection to my employer in some way. With GPs it doesn’t always come up, but I tend to go to the bulk billing ones anyway. I’ve also generally asked which specialist I should see with my colleagues and mention that - eg “I work with dr blah blah and they recommended you” it will be a genuine connection though, if I was in a different country or city without those connections I don’t think it would be the same just based on my profession in all instances.
@morse: Mum, brother, sister in law and uncle in law. They refuse treating or diagnosing family members so I'd go to the doctors they know and recommend that is not bulk billed for the public but is free for me but atm in different city so unable to get same benefits so far and they said they don't know anyone nearby me here. I can send them reports for them to pass to someone to review.
I tried hard, but can't understand the question.