Bulk Billing not for all.

With the increasing number of pensioners living in the area it is astounding the number of specialists who still refuse to bulk bill for their services. Take the case of a well known cardiologist practicing in Lismore. This medico is happy to bulk bill for aged pensioners over the age of 80 but not for disabled or those between 65 & 80. A stress test and echo cardiogram for example with set a pensioner back $295 (with medicare picking up $202) this means the pensioner is $93 out of pocket for that fortnight. Many readers will think "well why not" but imagine if your pay packet was reduced by 1/4 due to a single visit to a medical specialist. A specialist who in all reality should provide bulk billing to ALL PENSIONERS not just the ones that he determines are OLD ENOUGH to deserve to be bulk billed. I would urge the pensioners of Lismore to take a stand and quite simply refuse to NOT be bulk billed. Request your GP to refer you to a specialist that will bulk bill if you don't have private health insurance. Bulk billing is a right that pensioners fought hard for, and for an overpriced medico to take advantage of cardiology patients to line his pocket because he doesn't want to wait for or be paid at the bulk billed rate is disgraceful. Perhaps this is a service that needs to be reintroduced to the local base hospital. Along with the services of a number of other specialists in Lismore who refuse to BULK BILL.