On Thursday 31 May 2007 14:56, Cedric Meyerowitz wrote: > Horst, is that why you don't bulk bill standard consultations ? - doesn't > suit your wallet ?
I have changed our strictly private billing policy already several years ago, when I noticed how underprivileged patients failed to come for follow-ups or preventive health appointments, telling us they could not afford our (we thought reasonable) fees. Nowadays I bulk bill all consultations where patients *claim* they have difficulties to pay, regardless of their HCC/Pensioner status. I decided I earn more than enough to be able to afford this. I am rewarded by seeing how preventive health works again in our small community. However, this is a matter of personal conviction and the fact that my practice income is only about half of my total income. I don't expect my assistants or other colleagues to do the same (though they usually chose to do so). I also do some examinations at no charge - eg ultrasounds, 24 hr BP monitoring, etc where there is no medicare rebate but it makes medical sense and it saves the patient considerable expense and inconvenience. We have a donation box for voluntary donations for these, and some patients give generously, but even so these services are not commercially viable. As long as my wallet allows me to practice medicine as I like it, allows me to pursue my other personal interests, and my family to thrive, and support organizations which I believe make a difference (eg MSF, AI, Greenpeace, FSF) I don't care how thick it is. My children attend public schools, we drive second hand cars only, my oldest son has to earn his own way through uni, and neither I nor any of my family members see any point in wasting money on status symbols. Horst _______________________________________________ Gpcg_talk mailing list [email protected] http://ozdocit.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gpcg_talk
