Bulk-billing boost

By Lachlan Ellis

Local medical centres have received welcome support from the Federal Government, with hundreds of thousands of dollars contributed by a fund.

The Federal Government’s ‘Strengthening Medicare – GP Grants Program’ will invest $220 million over two years into the health workforce, with $815,000 of that going to GPs in the Division of Hawke, which covers much of Moorabool.

Nine medical centres are included in Moorabool, with Darley Medical Centre, Lifeline Medical, Rapha Bulk Billing Medical Centre, The Elms Family Medical Centre, Maddingley Medical Centre, Mecwacare Ballan Health and Care Services, Grant Street Medical Centre, and Myclinic Bacchus Marsh all receiving $25,000, and Bacchus Marsh Medical Centre receiving $35,000.

Commencing on 1 November, the bulk-billing incentive for GPs will also be tripled with a $3.5 billion investment, with the increased incentive to be paid on top of the standard Medicare benefit when doctors bulk-bill children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession card holders.

Grant Street Medical Centre Manager Tharaka Perera said the new funding was fantastic news for local GPs.

“The grant was great help to enhance our services. I would like to be thankful on behalf of the owner of the practice and all the staff. These funds will be used to provide a better service in the future. The increased bulk-billing incentive is also extremely appreciated by the clinics who do bulk billing,” he told the Moorabool News.

“When we look from the business perspective, private billing practices are paid more than the bulk billing practices. In that scenario, we as bulk billing practices do appreciate the funding from the government where we can provide a better service to our patients. Specifically, we are on the run looking for new doctors for the practice, which has been an issue from a long time.”

The investment is the largest into Medicare since it was formed, with Federal Member for Hawke Sam Rae stating that “locals will benefit with more doctors able to offer bulk-billed appointments, thanks to the Albanese Government’s record investment in Medicare”.