Eureka Medical returns to 100 per cent bulk billing

EUREKA Medical Centre has transitioned to a fully bulk billed service following $8.5 billion in funding allocated to Medicare by the Federal Government.

This is the largest single amount allocated for Medicare since it was created 40 years ago and Member for Ballarat Catherine King visited the centre last week to celebrate the occasion.

The funding was announced as part of Labor’s Federal Election campaigning earlier this year and will provide a further 18 million bulk billed general practitioner visits each year.

“I know how important this practice is to our community, and I know how important bulk billing is to this community,” Ms King said.

“This isn’t happening by accident, we have as a government focused on trying to lift bulk billing rates.

“We know from this practice alone that the savings for people in this community are over half a million dollars.”

The increased payment is set to begin from November, however Eureka Medical Centre staff decided to make the transition from July to assist patients.

The centre is part of the ForHealth group.

“For our network, we are the largest general practice and

bulk billing provider in the country,” ForHealth CEO Andrew Cohen said.

“Our mission is universal healthcare, so we really operate and focus on low socioeconomic and regional health vulnerable communities.

“In the context of that mission, the opportunity to switch back to 100 per cent bulk billing is a no brainer for us.”