(1)   Is he aware that there is no Medicare office in the federal electorate of Gorton.

(2)   Can he confirm that there was formerly a Medicare office in Deer Park, and explain why that office was closed.

(3)   Upon what criteria is the establishment or closure of Medicare offices based.

(4)   Does he acknowledge that Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a dramatic expansion in population in the Sydenham, Caroline Springs, Burnside, Hillside, Taylors Hill and Taylors Lakes areas; and if so, will he support the establishment of a Medicare office in the federal electorate of Gorton.

(1)   Yes.

(2)   Yes, there was formerly a Medicare office in Deer Park which closed in February 1998. At that time, the Deer Park Medicare Office had low customer traffic. Medicare Austalia Access Points are located at the Amcal Pharmacy in the Brimbank Central Shopping Centre, Deer Park and Pepin’s Pharmacy in Caroline Springs.

(3)   Medicare Australia considers a number of criteria when establishing a Medicare office, including:

• the availability of other claims lodgement methods such as: Medicare Australia Access Points, Medicare Easyclaim and Medicare Australia’s Online Claiming;
• the volume of claims lodged by customers in the area and the nature and level of different types of billing by doctors in the area;
• the proximity to other Medicare offices and the potential impact it might have on the workload of other Medicare offices;
• the current bulk billing level in the area;
• the cost of establishing and maintaining new Medicare offices; and
• a suitable site for the Medicare office - considerations include transport and security of staff and customers.

(4)   The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that all Australians have ready access to Medicare. To emphasise this commitment, the Government has announced a new initiative, Medicare Easyclaim, which will allow patients to lodge their Medicare claims and receive their rebates through an EFTPOS machine in participating doctors’ surgeries. This initiative builds on existing e-claiming and other claiming channels and will be delivered in the second half of 2007. The take up of Medicare Easyclaim will deliver enhanced convenience for the public as well as providing benefits for doctors and practice managers.