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MP pens targeted letter pressuring clinic to bulk bill
The letter, addressed to a local general practice, expresses ‘disappointment’ that it has not switched billing models.
The RACGP has produced a downloadable letter template for practices to use when responding to MP-direct communications.
A letter sent by a Labor MP to a general practice in their electorate has raised concerns about pressure tactics being applied to clinics not adopting the Federal Government’s preferred bulk-billing model.
The letter, seen by newsGP, was addressed to a Victorian practice and signed by a Federal politician, saying they had ‘received correspondence from constituents who utilise your clinic’.
‘My constituents have shared their disappointment that [clinic’s name] is currently not a fully bulk-billing clinic,’ the letter reads.
‘I encourage you to move toward a 100% bulk-billing model as it would better serve the community and your patients.’
The letter goes on to encourage the practice to use the Federal Government’s bulk-billing calculator to ‘more accurately estimate the financial impact of adopting a fully bulk-billing model’.
It is a targeted campaign RACGP President Dr Michael Wright says follows sustained advocacy from the college to educate politicians about the realities of general practice.
‘When we were at GPs@Parliament last week, we spoke to many politicians to explain to them why practices might be bulk billing, but also why practices weren’t taking up those billing incentives,’ he told newsGP.
‘And that’s because for many practices, those incentives don’t cover the costs of providing care, and that’s not going to change with pressure from a letter from a politician.
‘We’ve explained to politicians that if they’re really worried about this, what they need to do is increase the Medicare rebates for longer consults, because that’s where the pressure is.’
As of last month, almost 1300 general practices had switched billing models under the Federal Government’s flagship Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP), with Australia’s bulk-billing rate sitting at 81.4%.
It comes amid a significant Federal Government movement to have practices take up its BBPIP, including the launch of a widespread advertising campaign.
Federal Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler has also warned he will intervene if practices do not participate in his plan, saying he is ‘not just going to sit by and let some markets really prohibit members in their community from being able to access bulk-billed visits’.
‘I’ve been really clear with doctors’ groups, some of which have been a little sceptical about this in the lead-up, that they should not underestimate our determination to achieve this,’ he said previously.
In response, Dr Wright called on politicians to visit a general practice so GPs and practice managers can explain exactly why they may not choose to bulk bill all patients.
‘The Government’s measures have not been designed to work for every practice, and no one benefits if their practice is shut because they’re unable to stay viable,’ he said.
‘The college will continue to support practices however they bill, and that’s in the best interest of their patients and their communities.
‘If any politician wants to know why a practice has a particular billing policy, they can talk to me or the RACGP and we’ll be able to explain in detail.’
The RACGP has produced a downloadable letter template for practices to use when responding to MP-direct communications.
It calls on MPs to visit general practices to talk through the diversity and complexity of patients cared for, the time and resources required to provide care, and ‘why the current policy settings do not work for our patients or our team’.
The Labor MP was contacted for comment.
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