HEALTH minister Greg Hunt has confirmed an investigation into concerns about a huge rise in claims for after-hours GP visits, including allegations that a private equity firm which majority owns the National Home Doctor Service is reaping millions of Medicare dollars.
A News Limited report yesterday included previously unpublished Medicare data which showed 70% of the 1.86 million after hours house calls made in 2015-16 were by non-vocationally registered GPs and GP trainees.
Hunt said the firm had denied any wrongdoing, but noted that the RACGP and the AMA both had concerns as well, "so this is a moment of reckoning".
The National Association for Medical Deputising Services was quoted by AAP as saying all after hours doctors were fully trained and registered, and helped reduce hospital emergency demand.
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