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Media event date:
5 June 2024
Date published:
5 June 2024
Media type:
Media release
Audience:
General public
Newly released data shows the GP bulk billing rate continues to improve each month, since the Albanese Government tripled the bulk billing incentive on 1 November.
Seven months of official Medicare billing data shows that after a decade of cuts and neglect from the Liberals, the slide in the GP bulk billing rate has stopped and bulk billing rates are improving.
The GP bulk billing rate was 79.0% in May, a rise of 3.4% since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect on 1 November.
The increase in bulk billing is across all states and territories, with GP clinics around the country making the shift back to bulk billing.
States that historically have had lower bulk billing rates have seen the largest increases, with an 8.1% increase in Tasmania, and a 5.5% increase in the ACT.
Oct 2023
(before incentive increase)Nov
2023Dec
2023Jan
2024Feb
2024Mar
2024Apr
2024May
2024% pt change since Oct 2023 NSW80.6%81.2%82.3%81.2%81.4%82.2%82.8%83.3%2.7% VIC76.8%77.4%78.3%77.8%78.1%78.5%79.5%79.8%3.0% QLD73.6%74.5%75.8%74.5%74.9%76.1%77.3%77.0%3.4% SA70.7%73.2%74.5%73.8%73.9%74.4%76.3%75.7%5.0% WA68.4%69.6%70.8%69.4%69.9%70.4%70.8%72.6%4.2% TAS66.3%68.9%72.0%70.4%70.7%71.3%73.4%74.4%8.1% NT71.5%73.0%73.6%74.0%73.6%75.5%75.1%76.3%4.8% ACT51.5%51.4%53.4%51.6%51.5%52.7%56.4%57.0%5.5% Australia75.6%76.5%77.7%76.6%77.0%77.7%78.6%79.0%3.4%
Families with children under 16, pensioners and other concession cardholders are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor. Together, these patients make up more than 3 out of 5 visits to a GP.
For a doctor in a major city, the Medicare payment they get to bulk bill these patients for a standard consult has increased by 34%. For a doctor in regional and rural Australia, the Medicare payment has increased by around 50%.
The GP bulk billing rate measures the proportion of all GP visits under Medicare that involved no patient payment.
On July 1 last year, the Medicare rebate had the biggest increase in 30 years, delivering $940 million in additional Medicare funding.
On July 1 this year, the Medicare rebate will have the second largest increase in the past 30 years, delivering $900 million in additional Medicare funding.
The Albanese Government has increased Medicare rebates across the board by twice as much in two years compared to nine years of the last government.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Doctors’ groups have called our tripling of the bulk billing incentive a ‘game changer’ – and clearly it is.
“After a decade of cuts and neglect to Medicare by the Liberals bulk billing was in freefall.
“The pressure on general practice began when Peter Dutton was Health Minister and he tried to do away with bulk billing by introducing a fee on every single visit to the GP, and then started a six-year freeze on Medicare rebates.
“The Albanese Government committed to making it easier for people to see a bulk billing doctor – and that is exactly what is happening right around the country, particularly in rural and regional Australia.”
“This is a win all round – for patients, doctors and the health system – and it is helping make Medicare stronger.”
https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/new-data-shows-bulk-billing-improves-each-month?language=en
