Understanding Medicare Bulk Billing Consent
If your consultation is bulk billed, Medicare requires you to provide consent for us to claim the Medicare benefit on your behalf. Here's what you need to know.
What does Assignment of Benefit mean?
Assignment of Benefit is the process that allows Medicare to pay the Medicare benefit for a bulk billed service directly to the healthcare provider.
Why do I need to provide consent?
When a healthcare service is bulk billed, you are assigning your Medicare benefit to the practice as payment for that service.
Medicare requires your agreement before the practice can submit the claim on your behalf.
This process does not create an additional fee for a service that is being bulk billed. It confirms that you agree for your Medicare benefit to be paid to the practice.
How does it work?
If your appointment is eligible for bulk billing, our team will guide you through the consent process.
Your consultation
Your GP will determine whether your consultation is eligible for bulk billing based on our practice billing policy and your eligibility.
Provide consent
You may be asked to confirm your Assignment of Benefit electronically, on paper, or through another approved consent process.
We submit the claim
Once the required consent has been provided, we can submit the Medicare claim for your bulk billed service.
Good to know
Bulk billing eligibility still applies
Providing Assignment of Benefit consent does not automatically make an appointment bulk billed. Our usual billing policies and eligibility requirements still apply.
Private consultations are different
If your consultation is privately billed, you do not need to provide Assignment of Benefit consent for that consultation.
A parent or carer can provide consent
A parent, legal guardian or other authorised person may be able to provide consent on behalf of an eligible patient.
Our reception team can help
If you're unsure about the consent process, please speak with our reception team and we can explain what you need to do.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to provide consent for a bulk billed consultation?
Medicare requires an assignment of benefit agreement or other approved consent pathway before a bulk billed Medicare claim can be processed. Our team will guide you through the process when required.
Will I be charged for providing consent?
No. Providing Assignment of Benefit consent does not itself create an additional charge. It allows the Medicare benefit for an eligible bulk billed service to be assigned to the practice.
Do I need to provide consent if I am privately billed?
Assignment of Benefit relates to bulk billed Medicare services. Patients who are privately billed do not need to complete an Assignment of Benefit for that privately billed consultation.
Can someone provide consent for my child?
A parent, legal guardian or another authorised person may provide consent on behalf of a patient where permitted.
What if I have questions about the consent request?
Please contact our reception team or speak with us when you arrive for your appointment. We are happy to explain the process.
Have questions about your billing?
Our reception team is happy to help explain the billing and consent process before or during your appointment.
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