From November 1, a historic $7.9 billion government investment into Medicare takes effect, aiming to reverse the decline in bulk-billing since the pandemic. The new incentives encourage doctors to bulk-bill every patient, not just concession card holders and children under 16. However, the scheme is not compulsory, and many doctors have indicated they will not sign up.
Under the changes, GPs receive a financial incentive for bulk-billing any patient for eligible services, including short, standard, and long appointments. The incentive for a standard metropolitan appointment is $21.85, with higher rates in regional and remote areas. The incentive does not apply to all services, such as procedures, so some out-of-pocket costs may remain.
A new program rewards clinics where every doctor bulk-bills every patient for eligible services. These clinics receive a 12.5% incentive payment on every Medicare dollar, distributed quarterly between clinics and doctors. Patients can check if a GP is fully bulk-billing via the doctor's Healthdirect profile, which must be updated within 24 hours of signing up.
Currently, 1,600 of Australia's 6,500 GP clinics are fully bulk-billing. Another 1,000 mixed billing practices have indicated they will switch to full bulk-billing from Saturday. ForHealth, the second-largest general practice provider, will convert seven in 10 of its clinics to bulk-billing. CEO Andrew Cohen noted that while convincing some GPs was challenging, the incentives make bulk-billing viable again, especially in low socio-economic and regional areas.
Ochre Health, another corporate medical group, has 20% of its practices fully bulk-billing, with co-founder Hamish Meldrum expecting gradual expansion. GP Mark Fitzmaurice, who runs a clinic in Sydney's northern suburbs, said the incentives allow his clinic to continue bulk-billing all services, with each doctor earning an extra $1,000 per week. He warned against rhetoric devaluing GPs, emphasizing that the scheme prioritizes patient welfare over affordability.
