"Pathology billing"

Cost of health care

I have always understood that I have the choice to have my pathology tests bulk billed. Unfortunately this comes back to the choice / recommendation by the requesting doctor who is required to tick a small insignificant box on the pathology request form to request that I be bulk billed.

I believe this is forcing the doctor to judge my financial capacity which is none of their business. I can choose my doctor but I can not choose the pathologist as all doctors have their preferred pathology practices. While I am sometimes informed of the doctors charges I am never informed of the name of the pathologist or their charges.

If the tests are as an outpatient you take the form to any pathology provider and have choice but if as an inpatient there is no choice as it is sent direct from the hospital etc. and the first you know about it is when you receive an account. In the past I have phoned and the practice has changed the bill to bulk billing but at present the pathologist and doctor and clinic refuse to assist.

Can anyone inform me of the rules for bulk billing by pathologists?