New data shows more than 3,400 general practices across Australia are now registered as fully bulk billing, following federal government investment aimed at strengthening Medicare.
Almost 1,300 of those practices were previously mixed billing, with Federal Health Minister Mark Butler today saying this number continues to rise each week.
In the past three months, the national bulk billing rate has increased to 81.4 per cent, which Minister Butler described as the largest quarterly jump in 20 years outside of the COVID-19 pandemic. Among Australians aged 16 to 64, the rate rose by 6.9%, the biggest quarterly increase on record.
Bulk billing rates and the number of fully bulk billing practices have increased in every state and territory. Approximately 96% of Australians now live within a 20-minute drive of a registered Medicare bulk billing practice.
More than 1,300 general practices have shifted to fully bulk billing since November 1, contributing to the national rate now sitting at about 81.5%.
The figures follow a broader $8.5 billion investment in Medicare. Since November 1 last year, bulk billing incentives have been paid to GPs for every patient they bulk bill, with additional payments for fully bulk billing practices.
In October 2023, before the bulk billing incentive for children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders was tripled, the national rate stood at 75.6%. More than nine in 10 visits for those patients are now bulk billed.
Minister Butler said the changes were delivering improved access to care.
“We promised Australians more bulk billing and that is what we have delivered,” he said.
“More Australians are finding it easier to find a bulk billing doctor in every state and territory.
“Doctors and practices are moving back to bulk billing because it works for patients and it works for their practices.
Speaking about broader reforms, Butler said the government had been elected with four core promises to strengthen Medicare, including increasing the number of doctors, opening Urgent Care Clinics, reducing the cost of medicines, and reversing declining bulk billing rates.
“We need more doctors into the system, particularly new GPs, and I’m pleased to report the registration of new medical practitioners is up 50% on pre-COVID levels, and particularly pleased that more junior doctors are choosing general practice as their career,” he said.
“This year, a record number of junior doctors are training as GPs – about 500 more than were being trained under the former government.”
Butler added that 123 Medicare Urgent Care clinics are now open nationwide and have treated 2.5 million patients, all bulk billed, helping to reduce pressure on hospital emergency departments.
He also pointed to cheaper medicines policies, saying Australians now pay no more for some prescriptions than they did in 2004 and have saved “literally billions of dollars at the pharmacy counter”.
Butler said bulk billing had been “in freefall” when the government came to office but was now improving following two waves of investment.
“Back in 2023, we tripled the bulk billing investment that GPs receive when they bulk bill concession card holders, pensioners and kids, and I’m pleased to say that bulk billing rate for those 11 million Australians is back up over 92%.
“We know there’s going to continue to be more to do. Every week, we’re seeing more general practices seek registration as a 100% bulk billing practice,” he said.
“As the Prime Minister and I committed at the election last year, we want to see that bulk billing rate continue to climb over the course of the coming few years to get it back up to 90%. We’ve made a terrific start. There’s more to do, but this is delivering on the promise we made to the Australian people to strengthen Medicare.”
Australians can locate their nearest bulk billing practice through the federal health department website.
IMPORTANT LEGAL INFO This article is of a general nature and FYI only, because it doesn’t take into account your personal health requirements or existing medical conditions. That means it’s not personalised health advice and shouldn’t be relied upon as if it is. Before making a health-related decision, you should work out if the info is appropriate for your situation and get professional medical advice.