Today Medicare rebates do not cover the full cost of providing you with medical care. This is because the rate at which successive governments have indexed the Medicare Schedule fees has been substantially lower than increases in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and average weekly earnings.
The reality is that Medicare rebates do not cover the cost of providing you with a safe and high quality service. The fees charged by this practice have to cover all of our practice costs including employing receptionists and practice nurses, and meeting our operating expenses such as rent, medical equipment, electricity, computers and insurance.
The Government has announced it will not be indexing the Medicare Schedule fees this year. Medicare rebates have been frozen since 1st July 2014 and will not be increased until 1 July 2020.
It is not possible for this practice to meet our running costs each year without increasing our fees.
From 1 January 2017 our practice will be charging you the following fees:
Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm = Gap $37 ($14 concession)
Monday to Friday 6pm to 9pm and weekends = Gap $49 ($20 concession)
If you have extenuating circumstances please discuss these with your treating medical practitioner.
If you wish to let the Government know that the Medicare rebate is insufficient to assist you in meeting the cost of your medical care, please contact your local Member of Parliament, federal election candidates and the Minister for Health:
The Hon Sussan Ley MP, Minister for Health
Parliament House, CANBERRA ACT 2600
Tel: (02) 6277 7220
Email: sussan.ley.mp@aph.gov.au