More Medicare bulk billing for Murwillumbah

MURWILLUMBAH has been reclassified as a ‘regional’ location thanks to the Albanese Labor Government’s reversing of the former LNP government’s determination of ‘metropolitan’.

Federal Member for Richmond Justine Elliot announced this week that Murwillumbah locals and GPs would soon have more support from Medicare, with higher bulk billing incentives.

Five years ago, the small town of Murwillumbah was reclassified as a city under the Modified Monash Model (MMM) and instead given a classification putting the town in the same category as capital cities.

“This hurt our community,” Elliot said.

“It meant our Medicare payments were lower, and it stripped our GPs of the support they needed to bulk bill more patients, more often.

“This change to Murwillumbah’s classification means that the Medicare payments our GPs receive to bulk bill a standard consultation with an eligible patient will increase by almost 20 per cent, with the Medicare payments increasing by $11.15, from $64.20 to $75.35 per consult,” she said.

In November 2023, the Federal Government tripled the bulk billing incentive for pensioners, concession cardholders, and families with children and young teenagers.

“Since we increased investment in bulk billing, there have been 45,000 additional bulk billed GP visits on the North Coast,” Elliot said.

“This is a huge win for our community, and I want to thank all the locals who made their voices heard.

“I’m proud to be part of a government that is changing Murwillumbah’s classification back to regional.

“This is another step in the right direction to strengthen Medicare and improve bulk billing.”