Date: February 2026
The RACGP has provided a submission in response to the Australian Government’s consultation on
modernising gap-only billing and replacing Medicare cheques with electronic benefit payments under the 90-day Pay Doctor via Claimant (PDVC) scheme.
The consultation proposes replacing the current cheque-based system with a digital “gap-only billing” model, allowing patients to pay only the gap between the provider fee and the Medicare rebate at the time of service. However, under the proposed model the Medicare rebate would still be paid to providers up to 90 days after the claim is submitted.
The RACGP’s submission supports the removal of cheque payments and the transition to digital claiming but raises concerns that retaining the 90-day reimbursement delay will be financially unviable for many general practices and may reduce provider participation. The submission recommends legislative reform to enable real-time or near real-time electronic payment to providers, or at minimum a substantially shorter reimbursement timeframe, to ensure the model remains viable and continues to support patient access to affordable care.
Read the submission
Consultation for Modernising gap-only billing and the 90-Day Pay Doctor via Cheque (PDVC) scheme (PDF)