FEDERAL Health Minister, Greg Hunt, is promising to take action if reports that a Sydney general practice has been charging up to $250 for a COVID-19 vaccination are true.
A notice was posted outside the Blessed Health Care centre in Campsie in English and Chinese listing consultation fees for new Medicare or HICAPS patients.
The sign did note that "the COVID-19 vaccine medication itself is free".
The ABC reported that a GP from the clinic said it was charging a consultation fee as a private practice.
However, Minister Hunt said the Government had invested $10 billion in the vaccine rollout to ensure patients did not incur out-of-pocket expenses for the immunisation.
"If this story is accurate, we'll throw the book at them," he said.
"The reason why is very simple, the vaccine is free.
"The consultation for the vaccine is to be bulk billed."
Australian Associated Press reported people on temporary and bridging visas with no Medicare card had accessed doses of the Pfizer vaccine through the clinic.
Meanwhile pharmacists have been advised that they can administer free doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine to patients who do not have a Medicare card (PD 29 Jul).
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