Scarce bulk-billing options in Logan are leaving vulnerable residents out of pocket and, at times, untreated.
Seventeen-year-old Reyanna West almost missed out on learning of a recent cancer diagnosis due to the cost of a GP appointment, and is unable to receive fertility treatment for the same reason.
Last year, the Marsden Local noticed a lump on her neck following an ear surgery she underwent for a prior condition.
A doctor prescribed her antibiotics for what he suspected was a cyst, but that did nothing.
With symptoms including swollen lymph nodes, exhaustion, and a persistent rash and cough, the doctor finally booked Reyanna in for an ultrasound and CT scan.
But Reyanna’s mum, Kristie, was forced to cancel the follow-up GP appointment because she couldn’t afford to pay for it.
“The doctor called us and said, ‘no, you need to get in right away – I’m happy to bulk-bill you, but we need to sort this out and I need to tell you the results’,” Kristie said.
After months of tests and uncertainty, Reyanna was diagnosed with Lymphoma.
She started her chemotherapy treatment last week.
According to the National Cancer Institute, chemotherapy can lower the number of eggs in the ovaries, reducing fertility.
So Reyanna looked into saving some of her eggs, but with the treatment costing $8000, it wasn’t an option.
Kristie said they were devastated.
“Because it took us so long to find out what was going on with her… it was pretty devastating,” Kristie said.
“Rhianna does want to have children of her own one day, so that has upset her a bit.
“Because of the urgency – the amount of lymph nodes that she’s got inflamed on her neck, under her arms and down on her torso, they just want to get chemo done straight away.
“So if we did want to do that, we’d have to wait a month before she could have chemo.”
In Logan, less than 25% of GPs bulk bill all clients regardless of concessions, according to a 2024 report by healthcare directory Cleanbill.
A Cleanbill spokesperson said this number would likely continue to decrease, with the national bulk-billing rate dropping from 35.7% at the start of 2023 to 20.7% at the start of 2025.
Cleanbill’s most recent analysis shows the average out-of-pocket cost in Logan is $31.17 per consult – one of the cheapest in the state.
This is paid on top of the $41.40 Medicare rebate already provided for a standard, 15-minute consultation.
The suburbs surrounding Beenleigh, Kingston, Woodridge, Shailer Park, and Waterford West have access to around 20 bulk-billing clinics.
But suburbs in west Logan – west of Crestmead in the north, and west of Mount Warren Park in the south – are sharing only three bulk-billing GPs.
The closest bulk-billing GP for residents in or near Jimboomba who aren’t concession card holders is Tamborine Village Medical in Tamborine.
For residents further north – near Greenbank, New Beith or Munruben – the closest bulk-billing GP is Boronia Park Medical Centre in Boronia Heights.
While most of Reyanna’s cancer treatment will be covered by Medicare, Kristie said the financial stress was heightened by medicine, petrol, parking and other costs associated with her daughter’s illness.
“I’m off work until the 30 March – it could be longer – to care for Reyanna when she’s going through the chemo,” she said.
“I’m the only income provider.”
The family is currently raising funds to help cover their bills – gofund.me/fa62923b.
