DoHDA to send early intervention letters to GPs in October
10 Oct 2025
The letters are part of a campaign to help providers identify and correct incorrect Medicare “moiety” claims, such as charging a co-payment for a bulk-billed service.
The letters remind providers that under the Health Insurance Act 1973, bulk billing means accepting the Medicare benefit as full payment. No additional fees can be charged to patients for the same service, including booking fees or consumables like dressings or bandages.
Recipients are encouraged to review their billing policies and, if necessary, take proactive steps to correct errors, including refunding patients or submitting a voluntary acknowledgement form.
RACGP support and guidance
Dr Tony Bayliss, RACGP Medicare Compliance Lead GP, welcomed the campaign as an educational initiative rather than enforcement.
“This is an opportunity for GPs to review their billing and make corrections if needed. Most non-compliance is inadvertent because Medicare billing can be complicated,” he said.
Earlier in 2025, DoHDA sent over 5,000 compliance letters to GPs who may have claimed MBS items while overseas. The current campaign targets a much smaller group, reflecting that most GPs comply with billing requirements.
Resources for GPs
GPs can subscribe to the RACGP’s Regulation and Compliance Newsletter for updates, and the DoHDA provides a fact sheet with further information. Any GP receiving a letter with questions can contact Targeted.Compliance.Education@health.gov.au.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing; Royal Australian College of General Practitioners
