TELEHEALTH, TELEPHONE CONSULTS, AND GAP FEES

Since the Government took away its generous provision of bulk-billing for phone call consults, can private patients (who have to pay a gap fee to see me at the Surgery) note that a request for a telephone consult will carry a gap fee as if they were seeing me at the Surgery, from now on.

This does not affect patients who would normally be bulk-billed because they are Veterans, 0-15yo, DSPensioners, HCCard holders, or who have a Commonwealth Seniors Concession Card. These calls are bulk-billed.

Of course, if I choose to call you for a brief call for an important reason, such as an important result has come in, and you are happy with that telephone consult occurring, then I would usually be looking to bulk bill that type of call for anyone.

Thank you.