GPs give Government urgent prescription to make essential healthcare affordable for all Australians

GPs are urging the Federal Government to go further to rebuild Medicare and make essential healthcare affordable for all Australians after a nationwide survey found GPs are bulk billing more, but out-of-pocket costs are also increasing. 

Early findings from the Royal Australian College of GPs annual Health of the Nation survey of over 3,000 GPs show: 

• One-in-four GPs are bulk billing more consults since the Government tripled incentive payments for bulk billing. 

• Patients’ out-of-pockets costs increased to $36.86 on average for a 20-minute consult in 2024, from $34.91 the year before. 

RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said: “Funding gets results – but the Federal Government has only taken the first steps to rebuild Medicare and general practice after decades of underfunding and the Medicare freeze. 

"Early findings from our annual Health of the Nation survey show the Government’s tripling of bulk billing incentives for pensioners, children and healthcare card holders has helped GPs bulk bill more consults. 

“But this is only helping a fraction of our population. More needs to be done to make essential GP care affordable for all Australians.  

“Patients’ Medicare rebates have been underfunded for too long and don’t come close to the real costs of providing care. The health sector has also been hit by inflation. This is why, despite the tripled bulk billing incentive, patients’ out-of-pocket costs have increased – to $36.86 on average for a 20-minute consult, from $34.91 in 2023. 

“Australia has a world class health system, with general practice at the heart helping people stay healthy and out of hospital. But it won’t stay this way without proper funding. 

“The Labor Government needs to go much further to rebuild Medicare and general practice care, like they promised.  

“We need meaningful investment in patients’ rebates to make essential healthcare affordable for all Australians – we’re calling for a 20% increase to all Medicare rebates for 20-minute and longer consults, with additional increases for rural and remote communities. Increasing Medicare rebates is the most direct and cost-efficient way to increase bulk billing rates. 

“This is an investment in the health of our nation and will make a big difference with cost-of-living for Australians. Every year, more than 22 million Australians choose to see a GP for their essential health care. There is no substitute for the quality care you get from a GP who knows you and your history – this care needs to be affordable for everyone.”