In November 2023, the government tripled the bulk billing incentive for pensioners, concession cardholders, and families with children under 16. This investment increased Medicare payments to GPs by 34% in major cities and up to 50% in regional areas for standard consultations.

The reform has shown significant results across all states and territories. The national bulk billing rate rose to 77.7% by March 2024, an increase of 2.1 percentage points since the incentive began. Tasmania saw the strongest improvement with a 5.0 percentage point increase, while South Australia recorded a 3.7 percentage point rise.

This reverses what the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners termed a "free fall" in bulk billing that began during the previous government's six-year Medicare rebate freeze. That freeze, initiated when Peter Dutton was Health Minister and attempted to introduce a GP tax, will reduce Medicare funding by $8.3 billion by 2027-28 according to the Australian Medical Association.

The increased investment is also strengthening regional healthcare, with more doctors choosing to train as GPs in rural areas. The Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine will take on 165 doctors for training places in 2024, exceeding their target of 154.

Great QT zinger: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF_98nYT24E/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Update: Election promise:

[1] https://alp.org.au/news/first-year-of-medicare-data-shows-increase-to-bulk-billing/

[2] https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/six-million-additional-bulk-billed-gp-visits-since-governments-historic-investment#:~:text=In%20November%202023%2C%20the%20Labor,with%20kids%20and%20young%20teenagers.

[3] https://www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/professional/general-practice-front-and-centre-this-federal-ele

[4] https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/bulk-billing-at-centre-of-labor-election-pitch-attack-on-dutton-20241216-p5kyl0.html

[5] https://alp.org.au/news/cheaper-medicines-and-more-bulk-billing/