General Medical issues thread

[andye]

Good luck if they can get it for free... But for the rest is a long wait.

From my understanding of the statistics, Australia spends only a little more (as %GDP) as UK on health. However in Aus, the government spend is about 2/3, with the rest being picked up by individuals (health insurance + out of pocket). Outcomes in Australia are much better so I think there is better value for money for the nation as a whole.
Having worked in both countries (metro only), the health experience, standard of healthcare and access is better here.
However, when I left (15 years ago) you'd wait a shorter time for public surgery in the UK though I understand there have been some big blow-outs since, particularly after covid.
My feeling is that the NHS is very inefficient but there is almost no chance of the UK switching to an Australian model (or similar) as the British people just wouldn't stand for anything that wasn't entirely free.

 

[RooFlyer]

Preparation of the management plan is lucrative for the GPs and is generally bulk billed.

mine was done via one of the nurses at the practice and was more or less a box ticking exercise (or, probably more accurately, a standard form) but I was happy with that because I got the five appointments to allied health that comes under it. I never remember those as being free though - it was at a discounted cost. It probably depends what allied health person like a physiotherapist you see and his they bill.

 

[Lynda2475]

Medicare care plan provides 5 free physio visits a year

No Medicare provide 5 Medicare subsidized visits for allied health services i.e Physio/Chiro/Podiatrist etc per year provided you have a diagnosed chronic condition and a management plan from GP but it is not free. Any gap between the provider fee and the Medicare rebate has to be paid by the patient.

Same model as when you go to the GP, given virtually no GPs charge the Medicare fee, you pay more and then get the Medicare portion rebated. However, whilst my GP usually charges about $50 above the Medicare rebate, she did the management plan for the Medicare fee.

Physio cost $98 for a 1 hour visit. On health insurance I was getting 85% back, so cost me about $15 a visit. But now that allowance is exhausted moved onto the Medicare rebate where only get $58 back so out of pocket is much higher. Once my 5 visit are done, I wont go again before January where my new health insurance allowance kicks back in.

Basically its ~12 visits on health insurance + 5 on Medicare unless you want to pay full price.

 

[Quickstatus]

Rheumatologists don't like inflammation do they

Whereas there is some evidence (weak) that inflammation is important for the healing process - clinically better outcomes.

Some of the colorectal surgeons and a few orthos don't like antiinflammatories for certain surgeries including those involving bowel anastomosis (reconnecting bowel) and tendon surgery

 

[TheRealTMA]

mine was done via one of the nurses at the practice and was more or less a box ticking exercise (or, probably more accurately, a standard form) but I was happy with that because I got the five appointments to allied health that comes under it. I never remember those as being free though - it was at a discounted cost. It probably depends what allied health person like a physiotherapist you see and his they bill.

LIke a specialist visit or operation, probably depends on whether the physio wants to charge more than the scheduled medicare bulk bill fee.

 

[Pushka]

Whereas there is some evidence (weak) that inflammation is important for the healing process

Some of the colorectal surgeons and a few orthos don't like antiinflammatories for certain surgeries including those involving bowel anastomosis (reconnecting bowel) and tendon surgery

Isn't that because the usuals can create bleeding issues in stomach?

 

[Quickstatus]

Isn't that because the usuals can create bleeding issues in stomach?

No, the Anti-inflams reduce healing. So in example above reconnecting the bowel or tendon surgery+ anti-inflams = slightly higher failure rate of the repair.

Fever is a classic.
Too much fever bad such as in kids who get febrile convulsions. But fever absolutely important for the immune system to kill off germs. Without fever the mortality from infection increases.

Too much inflammation bad - as in autoimmune but inflammation is actually good in most other cases

 

[Pushka]

No, the Anti-inflams reduce healing. So in example above reconnecting the bowel or tendon surgery+ anti-inflams = slightly higher failure rate of the repair.

Fever is a classic.
Too much fever bad such as in kids who get febrile convulsions. But fever absolutely important for the immune system to kill off germs. Without fever the mortality from infection increases.

Too much inflammation bad - as in autoimmune but inflammation is actually good in most other cases

Nothing like a boiled germ!

 

[ellen10]

For some of the items they may have had private insurance? Often a perk offered by companies (attracts benefit in kind tax of course). IME few people just go out and buy their own PHI, instead relying on the NHS.

So I have quizzed them about free scripts. Once they turned 60 all scripts are free.
They did say you had to register with a particular GP practice, but you didn’t always get to see the same GP. But your visit was free.

 

[Flashback]

So I have quizzed them about free scripts. Once they turned 60 all scripts are free.
They did say you had to register with a particular GP practice, but you didn’t always get to see the same GP. But your visit was free.

Yes, that's correct for all ages - have to register with a GP practice and then you book appointments. You can try and get the same GP but not always possible, I would imagine it's the same in Aus?

Good to know re: free @ 60! Free prescription age frozen at 60. I currently pay £9.65 ($18.50) to get a 2 month fill of my reflux meds, so basically 6x scripts a year. A PPC (pre-payment certificate) is £111.60 so you'd need to buy 12 prescriptions over 12 months before it gives you any value. Mrs FB has 12 minimum (2x meds every 2 months), with possibly some additional as needed so for her it makes sense. For me it doesn't.

Still a long way to go for that, wonder if I'll still be in the UK then.

 

[JohnK]

It's supposed to be free.

I thought so too.

So got the Team Care arrangement from nurse at the GP surgery. We went for 4 physio visits and 1 Podiatry visit.

I called my old physio and he still bulk bills so I'm going to him for all 4 visits. Free.

Called Podiatry. TCA yes they accept. Bulk bill only if health care card. First visit charge $110 and get back $58. 2nd and subsequent visits charge $85 and get back $58 but these can only be from the 5 visits allocated each year. So either physio or podiatry but podiatry not free, only a subsidy.

 

[Lynda2475]

However physio and podiatry come under two separate claim limits/allowances on private health insurance which will give you more back than Medicare.

 

[VPS]

Has anyone signed up for this

Have you been asked to sign up to MyMedicare? Here's what you need to know

You may have received a text or email in recent weeks from your GP asking you to register for something called MyMedicare. So how does the scheme work and is it worth signing up?

www.abc.net.au

 

[TheRealTMA]

Has anyone signed up for this

Have you been asked to sign up to MyMedicare? Here's what you need to know

You may have received a text or email in recent weeks from your GP asking you to register for something called MyMedicare. So how does the scheme work and is it worth signing up?

www.abc.net.au

Seems a fair idea? We always use the same GPs and/or the same clinic these days.

Interestingly I got an SMS this morning saying there had been a change to my immunisation record - this seems to be because it has been added to My Health Record, even though we have ot (yet) signed up specifically. So maybe evenyone gets added automatically?

 

[Lynda2475]

I would imagine it's the same in Aus

Nope zero need to register with a GP in Australia, you can use medicare benefit at any GP practice that has appointment availability provided you are willing to pay any gap.

Most younger people I know do not have a regular GP, because if you have no chronic conditions no need to go regularly, so will just go to any GP that is convenient to where they work or happen to be when they get a minor complaint.

My friends daughter just moved to the UK and could not believe she had to register for a GP in her local area and could not just go to a 24 hr medical centre near the office. Seems quite restrictive and of course she had trouble finding a local GP taking on new patients.

 

[love_the_life]

Nope zero need to register with a GP in Australia, you can use medicare benefit at any GP practice that has appointment availability provided you are willing to pay any gap.

Most younger people I know do not have a regular GP, because if you have no chronic conditions no need to go regularly, so will just go to any GP that is convenient to where they work or happen to be when they get a minor complaint.

My friends daughter just moved to the UK and could not believe she had to register for a GP in her local area and could not just go to a 24 hr medical centre near the office. Seems quite restrictive and of course she had trouble finding a local GP taking on new patients.

You can still attend any GP and will still receive standard Medicare rebates. By registering for My Medicare, there are certain additional rebates available (eg long Telehealth is included etc).
But the GP has to have opted in as well for you to be able to register with them.

 

[RooFlyer]

Interestingly I got an SMS this morning saying there had been a change to my immunisation record - this seems to be because it has been added to My Health Record, even though we have ot (yet) signed up specifically. So maybe evenyone gets added automatically?

You definitely shouldn't be added to MHR automatically. I joined when it first started out and it’s been fantastic. Being able to access your health history and all the pathology and scans etc in one place when going to a new doctor is really handy.

 

[Flashback]

Nope zero need to register with a GP in Australia, you can use medicare benefit at any GP practice that has appointment availability provided you are willing to pay any gap.

Most younger people I know do not have a regular GP, because if you have no chronic conditions no need to go regularly, so will just go to any GP that is convenient to where they work or happen to be when they get a minor complaint.

My friends daughter just moved to the UK and could not believe she had to register for a GP in her local area and could not just go to a 24 hr medical centre near the office. Seems quite restrictive and of course she had trouble finding a local GP taking on new patients.

I was referring to having 1 dedicated GP, not registering. I spent all of my life in Aus up till my mid 20s so I'm well aware how it works.

You can still go to other GPs outside your registered one, it's just discouraged.

 

[Lynda2475]

I was talking in general, not about My Medicare.

But I just read the My Medicare spiel and seems to be another grab for personal information with zero benefit whatsover, given that Telehealth is usually just to receive test results so max 10 minutes and already fully rebated.

Looking at the booking engine for all the local GPs, you cant book a telehealth appointment longer than 15 minutes anyway.

 

[prozac]

I was referring to having 1 dedicated GP, not registering. I spent all of my life in Aus up till my mid 20s so I'm well aware how it works.

You can still go to other GPs outside your registered one, it's just discouraged.

Been seeing the same GP for past 38yrs. My children still see him as well.