News
Bulk-billing rate rises to 81%
As new data shows access to care is increasing, the RACGP President says ensuring practices are financially viable remains a priority.
Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler announcing the latest bulk-billing rates in Canberra on Wednesday. (Image: AAP/Mick Tsikas)
More than 3400 bulk-billing practices can now be accessed by patients nationwide, with almost 1300 of those previously offering mixed billing GP services, newly released data reveals.
Under the Federal Government’s flagship health reform, the quarterly bulk-billing rate increased to 81.4% between when the policy kicked in on 1 November and 31 January – this is still below pre-COVID-19 rates, which sat at around 85% for several years.
It comes as the cost of care remains in the public spotlight, with potential laws requiring specialists to add their fees on a national database to be introduced into Federal Parliament this week.
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said while these latest figures show patient access to GP care is increasing, ensuring practices are financially viable remains a priority.
‘There are a lot more people who are able to have a GP appointment with no out-of-pocket costs, and that’s really good for them,’ he told newsGP.
‘It’s a great start, but what we need to do is fix up the rebates for the longer and more complex consults so that people who are needing them aren’t facing out-of-pocket costs, and their GPs are being properly supported for providing that important care.
‘We just need to make sure that no matter where patients live and where practices are, there’s enough support for them to be financially viable, and that’s what the college will continue to fight for.’
Released on Wednesday, the Federal Government’s national bulk-billing snapshot reveals that in the three months since the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) began, there are now 3412 registered Medicare bulk-billing practices. Of these, 1269 practices were previously classed as mixed billing practices before converting to fully bulk billing.
These figures build on independently released data from Cleanbill at the start of this year.
Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler says the number of practices offering bulk billing continues to grow every week.
‘More Australians are finding it easier to find a bulk-billing doctor in every state and territory,’ he said.
‘Doctors and practices are moving back to bulk billing because it works for patients and it works for their practices.’
As well as increasing nationally to 81.4%, bulk-billing rates rose across each jurisdiction when compared to the same period the previous year, with each state and territory now having more fully bulk-billing practices.
Practices bulk billing before 1 November 2025 compared to 31 January:
- New South Wales – 990 practices up to 1326
- Victoria – 624 practices up to 935
- Queensland – 375 practices up to 598
- Western Australia – 117 practices up to 205
- South Australia – 88 practices up to 177
- Tasmania – 25 practices up to 59
- Australian Capital Territory – 10 practices up to 18
- Northern Territory – 75 practices up to 92
According to the data, the largest bulk-billing quarterly rate increase on record is for patients aged 16–64 years.
The latest bulk-billing snapshot data comes as potential new laws are scheduled to be tabled in Federal Parliament on Thursday, with the Government calling for increased public transparency on fees charged by individual specialists, including gap fees.
The plan includes a new public database of specialist fees available on the
Medical Costs Finder tool to allow patients to compare gap fees.
Dr Wright says if the legislation passes, it will create more transparency and certainty around costs to patients, which aligns with the RACGP’s
Standards for general practices.
‘The college has always been supportive of cost transparency, and practices should let patients know what their fees are,’ he said.
‘Giving patients clear cost information will hopefully help their decision-making process.
‘I’m pleased the Government is trying to make sure the information is up there, because it can be really confusing when people have multiple item numbers and are trying to work out what they’re going to be charged for different things.’
However, the RACGP President says there are some caveats to the proposed legislation.
‘Fundamentally this is good, but we’ve just got to make sure the information on the cost finder system is accurate and doesn’t shift the burden of assessing financial consent onto GPs and patients,’ he said.
‘Explaining the costs of care shouldn’t be shifted onto GPs and patients – it should be that the treating doctor has a proper conversation with people, and we need to make sure that continues to happen.
‘Cost is just one factor in decision-making, and the evidence shows that some patients associate cost with quality, which means they might pick the most expensive provider rather than the cheapest.
‘So, GPs need to have other information to assist patients in choosing who they would like to be referred to.’
Log in below to join the conversation.
BBPIP bulk billing bulk-billing incentives bulk-billing rates medical costs finder Medicare funding mixed billing
newsGP weekly poll
Have you ever reported incorrect Medicare billing or suspected fraud to DoHDA?