❓ Hon. Samantha Rowe questions the Minister for Housing regarding fees charged to Centrelink Health Care Card holders for completing Department of Housing medical forms. The Minister acknowledges the issue but provides limited answers and declines to intervene.
AnsweredQoN 954Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
DEPARTMENT
OF HOUSING — MEDICAL FORMS
954. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the
minister representing the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the experience of one of my constituents who, in
seeking to have a Department of Housing medical form filled in by her general
practitioner, was told that she would have to pay $100 to have the form
completed.
(1) Is the
government aware that persons who hold Centrelink Health Care Cards are being
charged these exorbitant fees to fulfil Department of Housing requirements?
(2) Does the
government think it is fair to expect holders of Centrelink Health Care Cards
to pay these sorts of fees to fulfil Department of Housing requirements?
(3) Does the
Department of Housing make available to tenants and applicants information on
those GPs who will provide form-filling services free of charge?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Will the
minister commit to liaising with the Department of Health to provide this
service to Centrelink Health Care Card holders for minimal or no cost; and, if
not, why not?
OF HOUSING — MEDICAL FORMS
954. Hon SAMANTHA ROWE to the
minister representing the Minister for Housing:
I refer to the experience of one of my constituents who, in
seeking to have a Department of Housing medical form filled in by her general
practitioner, was told that she would have to pay $100 to have the form
completed.
(1) Is the
government aware that persons who hold Centrelink Health Care Cards are being
charged these exorbitant fees to fulfil Department of Housing requirements?
(2) Does the
government think it is fair to expect holders of Centrelink Health Care Cards
to pay these sorts of fees to fulfil Department of Housing requirements?
(3) Does the
Department of Housing make available to tenants and applicants information on
those GPs who will provide form-filling services free of charge?
(4) If no to (3), why not?
(5) Will the
minister commit to liaising with the Department of Health to provide this
service to Centrelink Health Care Card holders for minimal or no cost; and, if
not, why not?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of this question.
(1)–(2) The
department is aware that some medical practitioners bulk-bill for a service
wherein the practitioner agrees to accept the relevant Medicare benefit as full
payment for the service, and that when a service is not bulk-billed, a
practitioner may privately raise an additional charge against a patient.
(3)–(4) The
department is unable to answer this question in the time available and I
request that the member place this part of the question on notice.
(5) Western
Australians have access to great health care in this state, and they have
choices, and this government will not be directing practitioners or members of
the community.
some notice of this question.
(1)–(2) The
department is aware that some medical practitioners bulk-bill for a service
wherein the practitioner agrees to accept the relevant Medicare benefit as full
payment for the service, and that when a service is not bulk-billed, a
practitioner may privately raise an additional charge against a patient.
(3)–(4) The
department is unable to answer this question in the time available and I
request that the member place this part of the question on notice.
(5) Western
Australians have access to great health care in this state, and they have
choices, and this government will not be directing practitioners or members of
the community.
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