Fed: Bulk-billing causing GP work overload: report
SYDNEY, Aug 17 AAP - General practitioners are being forced to see dangerously highnumbers of patients to make ends meet because of shortfalls in bulk-billing, accordingto the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).
The council's concerns were further compounded by Health Insurance Commission (HIC)data showing 25 per cent of full-time GPs were seeing more than 43 patients daily, theSunday Telegraph reported.
"The `two minute' consultation for low-income, older people is now becoming common,"
ACOSS president Andrew McCallum said.
"This is increasing the risk for older people that a serious illness may be missedor incorrectly diagnosed," he said.
The paper said the HIC data indicated that the bulk-billing rebate was calculated onthe basis of GPs seeing 27 patients a day.
But GPs quoted by the paper said they had to see far more to meet basic costs, withone GP admitting he saw up to 80 patients a day "frequently".
AAP pa/ak/ao
KEYWORD: BULKBILLING
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