Help! What's the deal with bulk billing?

I have never been bulk billed before - I always pay the total and get the medicare rebate via electronic payment. The last time I went to the docs (24/11) they just got me to sign a form and I didn't pay anything. But then today I got all this bulk-billing stuff in the post and it's completely confused me!

The first page is an invoice for $55.60, and says it's for pathology tests requested by the doctor. But it has the date as 11/11, and I didn't go to the docs or have a scan that day? It also says something about 3 or more - 3 or more what?

Then there's a green thing from Medicare, that says about an assigned benefit of $55.60. So am I paying it or not? And what exactly do I send to Medicare?

sounds like its an invoice for the blood tests associated with the NT tests, I got mine in the mail too with DD2 i cant remember exactly the procedure as I cant have the blood test this time round, but yep thats what it sounds like, could the date be the date it was requested or a processing date?

Did you have bloods done on that day? Who sent you the forms?

The form you were probably asked to sign is to say that they provided a service to you. And should specify what services were provided and by whom.

Without actually seeing it, it's hard to tell what you have been sent. But by what you've described, it doesn't sound like you need to pay anything, just sign the form and send it back. Having said that, call whomever sent it to you or pop into a Medicare Office with the paperwork and ask them to help explain it.

Usually with bulk billing, you sign a form which has a box on the top of the page. You never get sent anything in the mail and never a bill. Sometimes you have to sign the old fashioned bulk billing claim forms which are the green carbon copy ones.

MG

Something similar to this happened to my sister. My sister got a letter like you said with details of bulk billed dr appointments that she hadn't been to. She rang Medicare to find out what was going on, it turned out that the Dr's surgery was making fake appointments and bulk billing for them. It's probably best you ring Medicare and explain you've been bulk billed for appointments you haven't had.

Ah yes, the blood tests! That makes sense, didn't even think of that! Mine is the old fashioned type, I've got the green carbon copy thing. But, I have just found some small print which says I don't need to pay anything provided a valid assessment form is returned, and have to make sure my Medicare number is on there. And the date of the invoice/test is the day after my blood test.

Thanks everyone :)