GPs remain unconvinced on 100% bulk billing plan

Most GPs remain hesitant to commit to universal bulk billing despite an election push, with a mainstream media poll reflecting ongoing concerns.

Labor has committed an $8.5 billion injection into Medicare – matched by the Coalition – which includes expanded bulk-billing incentives and a new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program in a bid to encourage greater access to fully bulk-billing GPs.

But with just over a week to go before Australians take to the polls, another survey confirms GPs’ concerns with the plan.

An ABC News survey of more than 840 GPs has revealed just over 92% would not start exclusively bulk billing when the changes come into effect, while almost 8% would.

It comes after a recent RACGP poll found two thirds of the 283 members attending a college webinar on the impact of the election promises expressed ‘they are unlikely to change their billing practices’.

RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said further attention from mainstream media is a reminder that having the incentives available doesn’t mean practices are going to take them up – GPs’ billing choices are their own.
‘GPs will only change their billing practices if they are sure it is in the long-term interests of their patients and their practice’s viability,’ he told newsGP.

‘Both sides of politics have more work to do to convince GPs that their funding packages will deliver the benefits they have promised for their patients.’

Among the RACGP’s concerns is that the major parties’ bulk-billing incentives provide the same incentive payment for all types of consults.

‘We are concerned the proposed approach incentivises short consults, but our patients increasingly need mental health support and longer consults for managing chronic, complex illnesses.

‘These incentives have potential to worsen the gender pay gap, as we know that female GPs are more likely to spend more time on average with patients than male GPs.

‘Boosting Medicare funding for longer consults and mental health consults will immediately make this care more affordable and accessible for patients, and in the longer term reduce pressure on our health system and costs.’

Meanwhile, RACGP members are reminded to make their opinions count in the RACGP’s 2025 Health of the Nation survey (closing 4 May), which will help shape the college’s advocacy work in supporting GPs and practices.

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