A doctor’s appointment could soon become cheaper in NSW under an Australian-first move to encourage GPs to bulk bill and ease pressure on public hospitals. The NSW government has budgeted $189m to give rebates to GP clinics that bulk bill for most patients while axing historical payroll tax issues. UnderContinue Reading
A push to legalise the recreational use of cannabis on a national scale has been knocked back after experts expressed concerns it would lead to more use of the drug among young people. A Senate committee rejected a bill introduced by Greens senator David Shoebridge on Friday, which calls toContinue Reading
Fruit-flavoured prescription-only nicotine vapes for adults wanting to move away from cigarettes should be made available, manufacturers have told senators, as they throw their support behind new legislation aimed at stamping out the black market. After new laws came into effect in March that banned the importation of unlicensed vapes,Continue Reading
A Perth woman has shared a viral video that exposes a huge problem a growing number of Australians are grappling with. Imogen Blow, a content creator, took to TikTok last week to reveal she had been to see her GP because she kept losing her voice, which she needs forContinue Reading
More than 12,000 GP visits to obtain basic medications have been diverted to pharmacists, potentially saving NSW residents nearly half a million dollars in costs. Since May 2023, people in NSW have been able to access basic medication at their local pharmacies for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and since September,Continue Reading
A teenage activist leading the call for governments to legislate a duty to consider the impacts of climate change says Labor can’t just rest on its laurels as she pushed for further action. Anjali Sharma was a high school student when she led federal court action in 2021 against then-environmentContinue Reading
Nine out of 10 Australians see a GP at least once a year — but in many places, the country’s once-lauded “free” healthcare has given way to hefty out-of-pocket fees of $100. Rates of bulk-billing — when a practitioner charges Medicare directly for the service — have plummeted, while doctorsContinue Reading
Older Australians and young people will pocket more cash after a doctor’s visit after a major boost to the bulk-billing incentive for GPs kicked in on Wednesday. Starting November 1, GPs will receive triple the incentive to bulk bill concession card holders and pensioners for most standard consultations. Bulk-billing ratesContinue Reading
Older Australians and young people will pocket more cash after a doctor’s visit after a major boost to the bulk-billing incentive for GPs kicked in on Wednesday. Starting November 1, GPs will receive triple the incentive to bulk bill concession card holders and pensioners for most standard consultations. Bulk-billing ratesContinue Reading
Most of us understand basic etiquette when it comes to catching a flight, but I recently experienced first-hand what can go wrong at 38,000 thousand feet with no escape. Three years of Covid-19 health messaging wasn’t enough to stop what was to unfold in seat 14J on a long-haul flightContinue Reading