Thread: Modern Doctors - Its all about the money.

My regular Doc is hard to get an appointment with at short notice which is fine as I will book my regular checkups months in advance and I always book a longer consultation so I have time to discuss everything required. A standard consult is fine for a script refill or a certificate when you're off work sick, but doesn't generally come close to discussing ongoing medical treatments, annual checkups, etc. Ask for a longer appointment if you need a decent amount of time - it's not that much more expensive than a regular appointment.

I usually end up a bit early on the allocated time so that allows the Doc to catch up a bit or if he's not in a rush we'll have a chat about life the universe and everything.

If I need to see someone quickly I either jump on Hotdoc and see who's got a slot available in the next day or so as the Younger Docs generally do or ring the Practice and ask to be put on the cancellation list. While the system isn't perfect if work with what it is it's fine IMO.

Originally Posted by windsock

Wouldn't that include student debt as well?

not to mention they are prime targets for overpriced software and hardware they need to use to operate.

some of it is utterly ridiculously priced

Originally Posted by 3toes

At least you still have the ability to specify a particular doctor. Under UK system you apply to a surgery and they decide if they want to take you on. You are then allocated a doctor who is available when you make an appointment. There is no your doctor so you see a different one each time. If the surgery decides that they do not want you on their books they can just cancel you and you have to find another surgery

Not for long. One of the main objections I have to the pending tripple bulk billing changes most of you might not know about is the Lock and Tie to people to see their doctor will be forced by some and stuff up others!!

Right now "MY MEDICARE' is about to force or coerce many to SIGN UP "MyMedicare is a new voluntary patient registration model. It aims to strengthen the relationship between patients, their general practice, general practitioner (GP) and primary care teams. Registration in MyMedicare is voluntary for patients, practices and providers." LINK


It might work for some. It will see many patients being forced to SIGN UP or PAY! 1 Nov date is my company liquidation date so no issue for me!

If you are a walk any place type you will find this being a condition for billing types (Bulk Bill or Private) If you have a usual Doctor never sign up to another for My Medicare or your shooting yourself in the foot.

The Triple Bulk bill small change will be added to the 721/723 care planning next year for anyone signed up to the wrong doctor!

Some of the comments re relationships with specialist are interesting. My Doctors address books is huge and time taken to select the best fit for competence and cost to fit needs often takes a lot of time.

Care plans or MDCP (Item 721/723) are fantastic if done right. They enable you to get a Medicare rebate from health professionals who normally have no Medicare rebates. Red tape plus for your Doctor and a night mare if you meet Doctor Dodgy just once who doed that for you with out give you all the details. Sadly that is not uncommon.

The Impact is- Your Doctor cannot help you with a care plan benefit for 12 months after the visit you had to Dr Dodgy!

Medicare have clear rulz require only your usual GP create and manage those items. Guess which rulz are NOT enforced!! Guess who carefully creates a personalized care plan for you and will not be paid by Medicare for the hours they spent trying to help you? I have to call Medicare 100s of time each year to find out why and when a Dr D care plan occurred. They know, they can see it, they do SFA about it



It was payroll tax that made me really grumpy. MyMedicare and Medicare not policing clear rule breakers doing one off Dr Dodgy care plans are no longer my problem happily.

It is Capitation like the UK in so many of the bad ways 3Toes.

No fear. I have a coffee and planning a long run to settle my grump on Medicare and the ying and yang of your MYMEDICARE about to help and hinder here 1 November this year and in a bigger way next year.

Hello All,

I had previously seen a dietician for about four consultations - which I paid for. For the first appointment I had to pay a higher consultation fee as I was a new client... fair enough I thought.

Recently I learnt that if I went to my doctor I could have the cost of a dietician covered under a Health Care Plan. Fair enough... I thought.

With great difficulty I arranged to be linked back to the dietician I had results with - not the magic potion selling dietician the medical practice I am with recommended.

I had my first Health Care Plan funded appointment with the same dietician I had previously seen on four occasions. Because it was my first consultation on the Health Care Plan I had to pay a higher consultation fee!!!!
Why does the word "Rort" spring to mind.

To top it off ... for my Health Care Plan I had decided to be referred to a specific Exercise Physiologist - mostly because I have had previous appointment with them. They were even recommended to me by other mature adults - who just happen to have a health background. I had to fight with the medical practice to have referral sent to my nominated practitioner - who was not on the medical practice's 'recommended' list. I was assured that my wishes would be followed out. Just before close of business today I receive a phone message from a company I have never heard of before. The caller was from a different named company to the one on the phone display - nothing shonky there at all - the caller said "We just received the referral from your doctor for exercise physiology" So my expressed choice amounted to nought. I had been waiting close to a month for the appointment to be made.

While remaining polite as possible I had a discussion with the medical practice receptionist - 'oh there must have been a mistake - the referral went to our recommended exercise physiologist'. Apparently the doctor will be signing a new referral. Hmmm why is that word 'rort' springing into my mind again. Why does the practice have a recommended list.. Perhaps they are the allied health companies that give the medical centre the biggest kick-backs within this town! Stuff looking after our patients - how can we fleece them the most. Come in spinner!

Did I mention that I live in the town in Queensland associated with a very famous medical practitioner who was named "Dr. Death". Am I simply expecting too much of our health care system?

Kind regards
Lionel