The Department of Human Services has announced changes to its Medicare services for Lower North Shore residents.
From Monday 19 October 2015, staff offering Medicare services from the Spit Junction Service Centre within Bridgepoint Shopping Centre will relocate to the much larger Northern Beaches Service Centre on Pittwater Road in Brookvale.
Department of Human Services General Manager Hank Jongen said bolstering Medicare services in the existing Northern Beaches Service Centre will provide the local community with access to convenient, coordinated Medicare and Centrelink services under the same roof.
“Moving Medicare services to Brookvale reflects the trend of delivering more government services from a single point, while also acknowledging significant changes in the way customers are choosing to claim their Medicare rebate these days,” Mr Jongen said.
“There has been a decline in the number of people visiting our service centres largely due to the move away from cash rebates for Medicare services in 2012, and the growing trend of doctors offering patients the ability to claim their rebate electronically at the surgery.
“Over the past three years, the number of people visiting the Spit Junction Service Centre has nearly halved as people now take advantage of claiming their Medicare benefit directly at the doctor’s surgery.
“Nationally, more than 95 percent of all Medicare claims are now lodged electronically at the point of service, and I urge residents to check whether their doctor offers an electronic Medicare rebate service.
“Local residents are also encouraged to check out the range of digital services available through myGov and the department’s range of Express Plus apps, which allow people to do their routine government business where and when it suits them.”
The Northern Beaches Service Centre is located at 660-664 Pittwater Road and is open Monday to Friday, from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.
