GPs support bulk billing move: Chesters

BULK billing by general practitioners in Bendigo has risen by nearly ten per cent since November last year, according to Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters.

Ms Chesters said in the month before the bulk billing incentive was tripled on 1 November, 67.3 per cent of all GP visits in Bendigo were bulk billed, but over the next seven months the rate increased by 9.7 per cent to 77 per cent in May.

Ms Chesters visited Murray Primary Health Network in Bendigo last week to discuss the increase with its chief executive officer Matt Jones, who said the government’s move had been positive for both patients and medical practices.

Ms Chesters said that last week, the government delivered the second-largest increase to Medicare rebates in 30 years, with $900 million in additional Medicare funding. “This comes on top of the $940 million delivered last year, in the largest increase in 30 years,” she said.

Ms Chesters said official Medicare billing data showed that the slide in the GP bulk billing rate had stopped and was now improving by the month.

“Nationally, there has been over two million additional bulk-billed visits across the country since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect,” the MP said.

“Australians living in regional and rural areas have seen the biggest increases, with an estimated 900,000 bulk-billed visits.

“More and more locals are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor because of Labor’s efforts to strengthen Medicare, and this is also what the data tells us.”

Mr Jones said the 1 November bulk billing move was having a twofold effect.

“It means patients can access affordable healthcare because they’re reducing the out-of-pocket costs associated with going to a GP, but secondly it’s also supporting the practice to provide more sustainable healthcare,” he said.

“The costs of providing care have been increasing but the rebates for practices being able to bulk bill have remained frozen for close to a decade.

“Tripling the bulk billing incentive is good for patients and it’s good for practices.”