Your specialist's referral has expired

The rules about specialist referrals were developed in the 70s and haven't kept pace with the community's changing needs.(Pexels: Pixabay). You have a chronic health condition and visit your specialist for an annual check-up, but the referral's expired. You're told to get a new referral from the GP to claim the Medicare rebate. You take the next afternoon off to see your GP, who gives you another 12-month referral and tells you they can't backdate it. You're out of pocket for the specialist fee and gap payment for your GP consultation. You'll have to do it all again next year……. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-09-29/specialist-referral-rules-havent-changed-much-since-the-70s/12711184