Although the term bulk billing can be confusing at times, however, this service helps with immediate and emergency needs. Bulk billing means that you do not have to pay for your medical assistance from a healthcare professional. Bulk billing can be utilised for eligible Medicare cardholders and can be used as complete or part payment for the medical services provided. However, not all medical practices offer bulk billing services to all patients. Drayton Medical Centre is one of Toowoomba’s largest bulk-billing practices.
Thus, for availing of bulk billing doctors in Toowoomba, you should check whether your healthcare professionals accept bulk billing at the time of appointment. You can be bulk billed if you are enrolled in healthcare or if your healthcare professional voluntarily chooses to bulk bill. Bulk billing is covered by doctors, specialists, dentists, optometrists and other allied health practitioners.
What does bulk billing cover?
The following services are covered under bulk billing:
- Tests and scans like x-rays and pathology tests
- Visits to GPs and specialists that bulk bill
- Eye tests performed by optometrists
The following types of patients qualify for bulk billing.
- Healthcare cardholders
- DVA cardholders
- Pension cardholders
- Refugees
- For students under 25, holding a valid student card (Not eligible for international students on a visa)
- Children under 16 years
- NDIS clients
Some medical practices follow a mixed billing service. If your GP uses a mixed billing service, a full consultation fee payment might be required to be paid on that day. The gap between your Medicare rebate and the consultation charge is an out-of-pocket amount. With spot processing, the Medicare rebate goes into your bank account.
A GP visit attracts a service fee. However, assuming the standard consultation is $67.60 and the Medicare rebate is $37.60, you only need to pay $30.
Provided you are bulk billed, the GP has decided to accept only the Medicare rebate for this service. When you are bulk billed, the GP gets paid less for their services. To ensure that every one of the resident patients can access quality healthcare, we have chosen to absorb this.
We provide the utmost standard of medical and healthcare in our community. Furthermore, some consultations, including occupational and WorkCover, aren’t covered by Medicare. They have to be paid in full.
A private billing service is also on offer and provided by several healthcare centres, including;
- Allied Healthcare
- Alcohol and drug problems
- Mental healthcare
- Diabetes education
- Psychology services
At Drayton Medical, we provide education and support in providing training and education to medical students, Student Nurses and GP Registrars. We have held a long-term relationship with universities, including Griffith University, the University of Southern Queensland (USQ), and Bond University. Contact us today for further information.