Bulk-billing GPs accused of Medicare breach by also charging patients

Thousands of Australians are being asked to pay membership fees to their GP in order to access bulk-billed medical care.

Transcript

00:00What we know is that two years ago, there were barely any membership clinics in Australia.

00:07We now know there are almost 100 clinics across the country which are charging membership

00:11fees for people to be able to access bulk build services.

00:15The average charge is about $70, but it can be much higher.

00:19So here in Mildura in northwest Victoria, there's a clinic which is charging $220 for

00:24one person to access 12 months of bulk build medical care, or $330 for a family.

00:30Now the issue is that's a large upfront cost for somebody who's struggling with the cost

00:34of living, and it's also a charge for something that shouldn't have a charge associated with

00:39it.

00:40According to Medicare rules, there should be no out-of-pocket costs for a bulk build

00:43service.

00:44Now we've spoken to patients who, some of them have said they can't afford to pay that

00:50price to access bulk billing, and we've also spoken to patients who say there are very

00:55few bulk build services available, and they're able to afford that cost, and it is the most

01:00affordable option for them.

01:02Now the federal government says it is looking into this issue.

01:06It says any clinic which is charging a fee to access bulk build services is breaching

01:11Medicare rules, and it is taking this allegation seriously.