Medicare's closure of its Richmond office has almost put its medical rebates out of reach for some people.
Most GP services allow clients to process their rebates while paying, but not all medical practices have that facility.
Kurrajong resident Graham Wren said after his consultation at Richmond’s Macquarie Towns Specialist Centre, he had to travel to Windsor for his rebate.
‘‘It’s absolutely ridiculous; it was only a follow-up consultation with a specialist, not complicated at all,’’ Mr Wren said.
‘‘I thought I could go online for my rebate, but there are only a few items covered by that, so I still had to go down to Centrelink at Windsor.’’
He said in any case many patients, particularly older people, did not have access to online services.
He also said they would be the ones most inconvenienced by having to claim rebates elsewhere.
‘‘Once you’re at the Windsor office you’re met by a person with an iPad who asks you your name and what you’re there for,’’ Mr Wren said.
‘‘Within a few minutes I was called and got my rebate, but by the time I walked back to my car and drove home, it was about half the day.
‘‘It’s a bit inconvenient.’’
Manager of the Macquarie Towns Specialist Centre Nicole Davis said she sympathised with clients having to travel out of town for Medicare rebates.
‘‘Medicare can’t let us process rebates because we have 22 different specialists and they all have their own EFTPOS machines,’’ she said.
‘‘We’re not happy about that, especially for elderly patients because they can’t always claim online.’’
Federal Macquarie MP Louise Markus said the Human Services Department told her there was no technical reason why the Macquarie Towns Specialist Centre could not process Medicare rebates.
‘‘I’m advised departmental officers visited the centre earlier this month to advise them of various claiming options,’’ Mrs Markus said.
‘‘Staff at the Hawkesbury One-Stop Shop in Windsor can also show customers how to use self-service and digital options to manage their Centrelink and Medicare business without visiting a shopfront.’’
Macquarie Labor spokeswoman Susan Templeman said it was clear services in the Hawkesbury had been cut.
‘‘Reducing services in Richmond and forcing people to travel to Windsor doesn’t take into account that transport between parts of the Hawkesbury is difficult without a car, particularly if you or your family are unwell,’’ Ms Templeman said.
‘‘It is equally disappointing Medicare appears not able to provide the specialists who work part-time in the Hawkesbury some way of electronically refunding the Medicare payment.’’
