Here you go, chrisgaff1000...

http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/Content/Medicare-Benefits-Schedule-MBS-1

You have your history.

Type the item number into the Search MBS box (top right).

Then remember to come back here and tell us the answer.

I followed this procedure to find this in the G7.1 Billing Procedures note:

"Paid Accounts

The patient may pay the account and subsequently present the receipt at a Medicare customer service centre for assessment and payment of the Medicare benefit in cash.

In these circumstances, where a claimant personally attends a Medicare office to obtain a cash or EFT deposit for the payment of Medicare benefits, the claimant is not required to complete a Medicare Patient Claim Form (PC1).

A Medicare patient claim form (PC1) must be completed where the claimant is mailing his/her claim for a cheque or EFT payment of Medicare benefits or arranging for an agent to collect cash on the claimant's behalf at a Medicare office.

Alternatively a patient may lodge their claim electronically from the doctors' surgery using Medicare Australia's Online claiming."

Why did Australia get lumbered with Medicare anyway. The concept has been tried and found wanting elsewhere, but seems that wasn't considered sufficient justification form our numbskulled bloodsucking parasites to give it a miss. The Queensland free hospital system pre Medicare was funded by the Golden Casket & worked just fine. Private medicos didn't have anything to do with the later gubmunt handout that predictably led to dramatically reduced service & excessive costs. Where we had quite affordable individual GPs working from a home-based facility, available 24 / 7 & happy to do house calls, we now have a corporatized rabble with consultations far too short for proper diagnosis and steadily escalating costs. In particular, the added costs are going to health care management parasites rather than to the practitioners who are expected to work harder for less money. I guess Medicare is just another example of the bright ideas dreamed up by utterly inept bloodsucking parasites.

Medicare is just another example of the rich, propping up the poor, as the more you earn, the more you pay in to Medicare, yet, if you earn too much, you get cut off.

If only those who enjoy the benefits of a health care card, appreciated those who actually foot the bill.

As for doctors earning 1.8 million per year, if only people knew what actually happens in the running of a business, other than just the collection of money..

Train more doctors!

Smash the doctors union (AMA), which considering most doctors consider themselves a business, must be verging on a cartel. A cartel that restricts doctor numbers to enhance their own wages. To all of our detriment.

Disgraceful.

A cartel that restricts doctor numbers to enhance their own wages. To all of our detriment.
Mikk,
They put the so-called Tories to shame. There are many competent medical people coming to Australia only to be just so disillusioned by the jealousy-driven self protection mentality here.

Unfortunately Medicare has turned the family doctor into this huge money driven medical supermarket, where the primary focus is on numbers and patient care is senandary.

Non more so than with the introduction of the super clinics.

You know it's a sham when you go to see your doc about a sore knee, then if you mention any other problem, out comes the second form for you to sign.

I have two relies who are both doctors and they run a smaller medical clinic in Townsville.

They give great service to their patients (not clients) and allow for no more than THREE patients per hour, as they provide the old fashion service of, while you are here, is there anything else you have a problem with.

They know everyone by name, known their kids, even know what the kids are in to, similar to the old fashioned butcher.

I guess the next step is for Coles and Wollies to instal 'self assessment terminals' whereby one swipes their card, talks to an animated voice, then gets a printed script for the chemist.

Don't laugh, cause they would if they could and government would do nothing to stop them.