So, my doc just gave me my script to get the usual first-trimester pregnancy screening blood tests (ie, the ones that go with the nuchal translucency test, plus the required HIV, Hepatitis, and other tests). Before I was pregnant or doing fertility treatments, I never had a blood test that wasn't bulk billed. During fertility treatment, my specialist had me repeat some blood tests that my GP had previously ordered (which were bulk billed when the GP ordered it) and I ended up being charged over $100. I was pretty mad, especially when the lady at the lab said that I wouldn't have had to pay for them if the doctor had written "BB" in the billing code section of the test order form.

So now my fertility specialist has ordered these new blood tests and again didn't write "BB" (bulk bill) in the billing section on the blood test request form. I called my doctor when I noticed this and asked his nurse if I could have those bulk billed and she told me (after asking him) that "he doesn't bulk bill pregnancy blood tests". But she told me that I could call the OB I'm about to start seeing and ask if HE bulk bills (in which case I could write in the code). So it doesn't sound like there's any particular reason (like a law that PG blood tests may not be bulk billed) why I should not be bulk billed for these. So, I'm sitting here wondering, why is it any of my doc's business how much the blood lab charges me for my blood test? Is it "legal" for me to myself just go ahead and write "BB" in the billing code? I don't want to do anything improper, but I don't see why when one doctor orders a blood test there is no cost to me, but then when another doc orders the same test I have to pay large amounts for it out of pocket. It doesn't make sense, since it's not like the doctor is the person getting paid when I take the test. Yet I don't know what is normal for the PG screening tests. If EVERYBODY pays for them out of pocket, then I don't mind doing that. But I'm curious to know if most of you have them bulk billed or not. Is this just my doctor, or is it that the blood test labs will never accept bulk billing for these particular tests? For what it's worth, I'm doing my blood test through QML in Queensland. If any of you can let me know whether you paid for your BTs or had them bulk billed, I'd much appreciate it.

Thanks for any replies!

KitKat72