Clinics share $61 million in first BBPIP payment

More than $61 million has been delivered to 2949 general practices, as the first Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) payments are handed out.
 
Revealed for the first time since the program’s introduction, the first quarter figures run from the program’s start date of 1 November 2025 through to 31 December 2025. The next quarter will reflect a full three-month cycle.
 
The BBPIP is a key plank in the Federal Government’s strategy to lift bulk-billing rates across the country, with GPs and their practices sharing an even split of a 12.5% incentive for universal bulk billing.
 
A Health Department spokesperson said $61.4 million in incentive payments had now been distributed to 2949 of a total 3251 registered practices.
 
This equates to an average of just under $21,000 going to each practice.
 
‘Some payments to practices could not be disbursed in the initial payment run due to those practices not having fully completed their registration requirements for the program,’ the health spokesperson told newsGP.
 
‘Some practices may not have been eligible to receive a payment if they did not meet the requirements of the bulk-billing program.
 
‘The Department, in partnership with Services Australia, is working with practices to assist them to rectify issues to facilitate payments where they would otherwise be eligible.’
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said it is positive to see this additional funding flowing to participating practices.
 
‘These payments will be a great support for GPs and practices who have taken up the new BBPIP,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘We know that increasing investment in general practice and its viability is critical to the health of our nation.
 
‘We have to make sure that the viability of all general practices is supported all around the country.’
 
The information comes as the Federal Government this week released a national bulk-billing snapshot, revealing that in the three months since the BBPIP began, 3412 Medicare bulk-billing practices have registered.
 
Of these, 1269 practices were previously classed as mixed-billing practices before converting to fully bulk billing.
 
The overall bulk-billing rate has increased to 81.4% since the policy kicked in from 1 November.
 
While making steady progress, it remains short of pre-COVID-19 rates, which sat at around 85% for several years.
 
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BBPIP bulk billing bulk-billing rates Medicare funding mixed billing