Have to go for a blood test and ECG tomorrow and I've not done this before so does anyone know if I will have to pay or is it bulk billed? I rang the doctors but the receptionist wasn't very helpful and said it would tell me on the form but I can't see anything on there about payment? My doctor isn't a bulk billed one if that makes a difference??

I think my boss said that he was bulk billed when he went for his last month, if that helps?

Is your doctor the doctor that is doing the tests? If not contact the specialist concerned, or go with the assumption that you will have to pay, and if it is bulk-billed you are ahead. If you pay, you should at least be able to claim some of it back on Medicare.

The OP's doctor doesn't bulk-bill......

Some doctors do, some will not....

Where are you getting the tests done? Call them and ask them.

Some places will bulk-bill everyone, some don't.

They've given me a list of all the places that do blood tests in my area and told me to just turn up from around 8 in the morning. The ECG test is being done by the nurse at my doctors surgery. I suppose I should just ask when I turn up?

At least if it costs, you should get something back from Medicare.

When I go for a blood test I just pop in the pathology lab (QML) next to the surgery with the docket from the doctor. The blood gets taken, I sign and leave. A bill arrives about a week later and I pay, wait for the receipt in the post, then claim what i can.

If your doctor is nice, they will have ticked the box on the form that says 'bulk bill'. If they don't, just ask and they will. Check the form, see which payment box has been ticked.

Thanks everyone for your help, I'll see how I go tomorrow.

My doctor doesn't bulk bill, but all the blood tests I've had done at the path lab at his request have been bulk billed.

As MP says, there's usually a box on the request form (or a typed statement) that says if the tests are bulk billed.

QLD blood tests are bulk billed. ECG, MRI and other non-basics are not but x-rays are normally bulk billed too

The answer is....It depends

Here in SA, if you use the government-owned pathology lab, 99.9% tests are automatically bulk-billed. If you use one of the many private labs, they'll send a bill which I usually pay at a post office or online then put it through medicare and get back what I get back.

Having had a few tests now, I'll usually ask the doctor or specialist to request the test through the government lab if only to save me filling in yet more medicare forms and spending more money on stamps.

Cheers

LG

True, you normally have to ask the Dr to tick the bulk billed box, here in Sydney. We were told early on, by others, to always say to the Dr "I am concerned about the cost" in the consultation and it works a charm.

Here in Vic these guys BB automatically
http://www.healthscopepathology.com....ntreSearch.asp