Commission reveals drop in fully bulk-billed patients

Fewer than half of patients are being fully bulk billed for GP services, according to a new report from the Productivity Commission.
 
In its latest Report on Government Services, released late on Thursday, the Commission revealed the proportion of non-referred patients that were fully bulk billed fell from 51.7% in 2022–23 to 47.7% in 2023–24.
 
It marks a significant drop in recent years, following two years of growth spurred on by the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw rates hit 67.6% in 2020–21 and 65.8% in 2021–22.
 
The Commission also found Federal Government spending on GPs rose from $11.5 billion to $12.2 billion from 2022–23 to 2023–24, which included the tripled bulk billing incentive introduced in November 2023.
 
Expenditure on GPs per person also increased from $439.5 in 2022–23 to $452.4 in 2023–24.
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright told newsGP that while the Federal Government has taken steps to improve patient access to bulk-billed GP services, the job is far from over.
 
‘The tripled bulk billing incentives helped specialist GPs bulk bill concession card holders, pensioners and children. It stabilised the collapse in bulk billing which happened after decades of underinvestment in Medicare, including the 10-year funding freeze,’ he said.
 
‘However, there is still a way to go to rebuild Medicare and ensure everyone across Australia has access to affordable healthcare.’
 
The Report on Government Services also showed average out-of-pocket costs for GP attendances remained stable at $45, while specialist attendances increased from $113 to $117, and allied health remained stable at $68.
 
With a Federal Election looming, Dr Wright said it is time for all parties to ‘commit significant investment’ to Medicare to ensure healthcare remains accessible to all Australians.
 
‘The 2025 Federal Election is critical,’ he said.
 
‘The RACGP has a plan for accessible and affordable GP care for Australia, and as part of it, we’re calling on all political parties to commit to significant investment in Medicare.
 
‘With the right funding, we can increase bulk billing for those who need it and halve out-of-pocket costs for those who aren’t bulk billed. 
 
‘Access to affordable GP care is essential for everyone in Australia, and it’s a priority for voters. We need to see bold commitments from all political parties to make it happen.’
 
In other key findings from the Productivity Commission report include:

• Bulk billing remains relatively stable among those aged 0–15 and 65 years and older, but rates fell by 5.1% among 16–64-year-olds to 69.1% between 2022–23 and 2023–24
• Nationally in 2023, the number of full-time equivalent GPs per 100,000 people decreased as remoteness increased (111.8 GPs per 100,000 people in major cities compared to 87.3 GPs per 100,000 people in outer regional, remote and very remote areas)
• The number of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander primary healthcare services increased to a 10-year high of 213 in 2022–23

billing 'bulk general practice funding