Is mixed billing the answer to business sustainability? Government funding for general practice has failed to keep up with the real costs of running a small business. So what options do GPs have?
‘Scary’ co-op failure sets off ‘alarm bells’ for general practice GPs are calling for widespread primary care funding reform after a not-for-profit bulk-billing co-operative servicing 30,000 patients went into voluntary administration.
Should bulk-billing rates be used as a measure of healthcare success? While ‘more Australians than ever’ are accessing healthcare at no cost to themselves, GPs argue record bulk-billing rates ignore the threat posed by burnout and ever-increasing business costs.
Should patients determine their own gap fee? New research suggests a ‘patient-chosen gap payment’ model could potentially generate almost $1.5 billion in revenue for general practice.
Telehealth pushes bulk-billing to record levels But, average out-of-pocket costs for patients continue to increase.
‘We don’t want to be bulk-billing clinics’ As many independently owned clinics report financial strain amid the COVID-19 pandemic, GPs have expressed fears for the viability of their practices.
Workforce Incentive Program: What will the new year bring? newsGP summarises the changes to government workforce incentives coming into effect in 2020.
Government releases detailed breakdown of bulk-billing rates Find out how your practice compares to the rest of your electorate.
Rural bulk-billing eligibility set to change Medicare billing incentives will change for GPs outside the major cities, as the DoH modifies the way it classifies rural and remote areas.
Decrease in funding a ‘turning point for general practices’ A steady decline in bulk-billing rates can be attributed to under-funding and the cost of running a practice, experts told newsGP.