GPs concerned over pathology requests to restrict bulk-billing
GPs have hit out at attempts from pathology providers to recruit them in a bid to scale back bulk-billing services – a move that has also caused friction with consumer groups. Last week it emerged that five leading pathology providers had written separately to GPs asking that they limit bulk-billing requests to patients they believed were financially disadvantaged, including pensioners and healthcare cardholders. The providers said their requests had come as a direct result of cuts to 259 Medicare-funded pathology items announced in the May federal Budget. But the move has raised the ire of consumer groups. ...