Queensland Health owed $44m in unpaid patient bills

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International tourists and visitors without health insurance are being blamed for the huge debt burden in the state's public hospital system.

Queensland's public hospitals are owed $44 million in unpaid patient bills, primarily from Medicare-ineligible patients such as international travellers.The Metro North health service has contracted out its debt collection at a cost of $7 millionWithout Medicare, an overnight stay in a Queensland public hospital might cost upward of $2,300

Metro South, which covers the Princess Alexandra, QEII Jubilee, Logan, Redland and Beaudesert hospitals, is owed $7.9 million.In late 2018, The Australian reported that Queensland's Medicare-ineligible patient debt burden was just $11 million. "Patients that do not hold Medicare entitlements are classified as Medicare ineligible and are responsible for fees that relate to their treatment in Queensland public hospitals," the spokesperson said.For Medicare-ineligible patients, an overnight stay in a Queensland public hospital might cost upward of $2,300.

 

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Between private health care and Medicare I don't see how that is possible..

Can bet they are overseas travellers

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