Nearly half of patients say they would accept a $20 gap fee for standard consults
The findings follow the RACGP's call to move away from universal bulk-billing where possible
Nearly half of patients say they would stick with their regular GP who started charging a small gap fee of $20 or less for standard consults, a new survey by HealthEngine suggests.
Last year, RACGP president Dr Karen Price encouraged GPs to move away from universal bulk-billing where possible, arguing that sky-high bulk-billing rates were harming the specialty.
HealthEngine’s survey of around 11,000 patients was conducted in April in conjunction with the Australian Patient Association.
It found that 16% of patients would stay with their GP regardless of the gap fee imposed for a standard consult.
