Historical publications
Medicare Statistics - March Quarter 2005
Statistical data related to Medicare for the March Quarter 2005 together with data for earlier quarters and financial years.
Table of Contents
Interpretation
Care should be exercised in interpreting changes in the utilisation of Medicare services over time. Changes in the utilisation of services over time may reflect structural changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (eg the introduction of pathology patient episode initiation items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule in early 1992, has added approximately 15 million services to Medicare, with no change in the coverage of Medicare). Changes in the utilisation of services may also reflect population growth and net migration, ageing of the population, cost shifting (services previously provided by States/Territories at no charge or services which should more appropriately be performed under public patient arrangements, are being charged under Medicare), minor additions of new items to the Medicare Benefits Schedule and changes to the coverage of Medicare as a result of Government policy.
The data incorporated in this report reflect the period in which claims were processed. Care should be exercised in interpreting quarter on quarter movements in utilisation, due to the seasonal nature of use of certain types of services (eg non-referred attendances have sessional peaks in the June and September quarters each year). Furthermore, the timing of Easter each year can affect interpretation of movements in utilisation of services between the March and June quarters of successive years. Different processing rates for the same State/Territory in the same quarter of successive years, can also affect interpretation of data and may not be indicative of the rate of utilisation of services in the corresponding periods.
In the broad type of service tables, attendances involving general practitioners/vocationally registered general practitioners (GP/VRGP) are distinguished from enhanced primary care, other non-referred attendances and practice nurse services. In interpreting fee charged, Schedule fee and benefit paid, the data for GPs do not include income received from other Australian Government payments such as the Practice Incentives Program (PIP).
Fee charged data in the attached tables reflect amounts contained on accounts submitted to the Health Insurance Commission (HIC) for payment. For bulk billed services, the fee charged is equal to the benefit paid. For patient billed services paid by the HIC prior to the account being settled with the medical practitioner, the fee charged will reflect the amount recorded on the account. This may not be subsequently received by the medical practitioner, since some practitioners accept the Medicare benefit as full settlement of the account and some provide discounts for early payment. Data on average patient contributions per service must be treated with caution due to uncertainty about final payment of accounts because of this discounting.
