GPs get it wrong with Medicare charging
Professional Services Review (PSR), Australia’s health professions watchdog, has found that many doctors continue to inappropriately use Medicare items, incorrectly charging Medicare and patients for procedures such as long and prolonged consultation items, optometric attendance items, team care arrangements and over use of diagnostic imaging or pathology.
In its fifth Report to the Professions 2008-09, PSR said it had investigated 136 GPs, medical specialists, medical practitioners and optometrists after referrals from Medicare Australia.
These investigations resulted in sanctions applied to some practitioners which included full or partial disqualification from Medicare for up to three years, and repayment of Medicare benefits totalling around $1.7 million.
