Bulk Billing Keeps Rising In Dobell
The Central Coast has seen some of the largest increases in bulk billing across Australia since the Albanese Labor Government tripled the bulk billing incentive.
In regional communities like the Central Coast, we’ve seen an increase in bulk billing making it easier and more affordable for people to see a doctor.
In the 5 months since we tripled the bulk billing incentive, over 5,000 additional people in our community have had a bulk billed GP visit.
The tripling of the bulk billing incentive is the largest investment in bulk billing since Medicare was established 40 years ago.
The initiative, a key part of the Government’s $6.1 billion Strengthening Medicare - is the largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare’s 40-year history.
In October, before the incentive was tripled, 69.7 percent of all GP visits were bulk billed in the electorate of Dobell. By December that jumped by around 5.5 percent to 75.1 and has now increased again to 75.5 percent.
The increase in bulk billing means an estimated 5,100 additional trips to the GP were bulk billed in Dobell from November through to March, saving locals an estimated $218,000 in gap fees and helping to ease the cost-of-living.
Bulk billing was in free fall after a decade of cuts and neglect by the former Liberal Government that began when Peter Dutton froze Medicare rebates as Health Minister.
With the significant investment from the Albanese Government, bulk billing has now stabilised, supporting GPs to bulk bill more patients who need care the most.
The bulk billing incentive is paid on top of the standard Medicare benefit when doctors bulk bill children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession card holders.
The GP bulk billing rate measures the proportion of all GP visits that involved no patient payment.
In regional communities like the Central Coast, we’ve seen an increase in bulk billing making it easier and more affordable for people to see a doctor.
In the 5 months since we tripled the bulk billing incentive, over 5,000 additional people in our community have had a bulk billed GP visit.
The tripling of the bulk billing incentive is the largest investment in bulk billing since Medicare was established 40 years ago.
