Low Rates of Bulk Billing for GP Visits Across Australia

A new report made headlines this week showing low rates of bulk billing for GP visits across Australia.

What is Bulk Billing?

Bulk billing means the consultation is free for the patient and the GP accepts what Medicare covers (the “benefit” or “rebate”) as the full payment.

Report Highlights

The highest reported bulk billing rate was in New South Wales (34.5%) and the lowest in the ACT (3.3%) and Tasmania (0%). This caused the Tasmanian health minister to declare bulk billing “dead” in her state.

But Does This Really Mean No Tasmanians Are Being Bulk-Billed at the GP?

No – as federal health minister Mark Butler was quick to point out after the report’s release, the company asked 6,925 GP clinics only whether they had standard, weekday consultations available to be bulk-billed for adults with no concessions.

A Range of People Have Concessions

A range of people do have concessions – children under 16, pensioners and people with a health care card – meaning the actual bulk-billing rate is much higher, although Butler said he’d like it to be higher still.

Expert Opinions

We asked five experts: should we be aiming to bulk-bill everyone? Four out of five said yes. Here are their detailed responses.

Infographic: Expert Opinions on Bulk Billing

Conclusion

The report highlights the need for a more comprehensive approach to bulk billing in Australia. While the current system has its limitations, it is clear that many Australians are not able to access bulk billing services. As the federal health minister has acknowledged, there is a need to increase the bulk billing rate, particularly for those who are most in need.

FAQs

Q: What is bulk billing?
A: Bulk billing means the consultation is free for the patient and the GP accepts what Medicare covers (the “benefit” or “rebate”) as the full payment.

Q: What are the current bulk billing rates in Australia?
A: The highest reported bulk billing rate is in New South Wales (34.5%) and the lowest in the ACT (3.3%) and Tasmania (0%).

Q: Why are bulk billing rates so low in some states?
A: The report suggests that the low rates may be due to a lack of funding and resources in some states.

Q: What do the experts think about bulk billing?
A: Four out of five experts said that we should be aiming to bulk-bill everyone.

Q: What can be done to improve bulk billing in Australia?
A: The report suggests that increasing funding and resources, as well as implementing a more comprehensive approach to bulk billing, could help to improve access to healthcare services for all Australians.