The Twin Town Times was alerted this week to the fact that Murrumbidgee Health is entitled to charge patients who present in the emergency department $133 if they don’t have their Medicare card with them. All people presenting to a hospital Emergency Department with an urgent condition will always be assessed and provided with the treatment they need. Public hospital patients are requested to present their Medicare card to be eligible for treatment at no charge. If a Medicare card cannot be presented, the patient is classified as Medicare ineligible. An assessment will be made by Murrumbidgee Local Health District whether the patient is eligible for medical treatment at no charge or be charged an outpatient service rate of $133 as determined by NSW Health. Please see the link below for the full NSW Health policy: http://www0.health.nsw.gov.au/policies/pd/2016/PD2016_031.html