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Medicare Australia encourages electronic claiming in the Wodonga area
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Posted: 04/06/2009
MEDICARE Australia is encouraging Medicare cardholders and medical practices in the Wodonga municipality to use electronic claiming for Medicare rebates when patients visit a health care professional.
Reminding more GPs and specialists to offer Medicare electronic claiming to their paying patients could potentially benefit up to 35,000 people in the Wodonga area.
Electronic claiming allows patients to claim their Medicare rebate on-the-spot when they see their health care professional. The rebate is paid directly into their bank account within a few days.
Recent research has shown that about 80 per cent of patients who pay to see their GP or specialist would like to lodge their claim electronically at the surgery, Medicare electronic claiming is responding to this need.
"There is growing demand for electronic claiming, but there is still scope to increase the use of electronic claiming in the Wodonga area," says Mark Jackson, Medicare Australia acting Deputy Chief Executive Officer.
"We want local practice staff to feel confident about using electronic claiming so they can help their patients take advantage of its benefits – such as convenience, speed and simplicity.
Medicare Australia is aiming to increase the number of Australians using electronic claiming to claim their rebate and is reminding patients in the Wodonga municipality to ask about electronic claiming the next time they visit their GP or a specialist.
"Electronic claiming is a natural next step for Medicare cardholders and for medical practices and specialists," Mr Jackson said.
"Most people find there are never enough hours in the day to finish everything they need to do, so any service that enables busy patients and busy practices to save time and effort is important."
