New figures show early impact of tripled bulk billing incentive

The first bulk billing figures released by the Federal Government since the introduction of the tripled bulk billing incentive suggest the rapid decline in fully subsidised appointments may have stabilised.
 
Figures for November and December released by the Government to coincide with the 40th anniversary of Medicare record a 2.1% increase in bulk billing rates nationally.
 
The tripled bulk billing incentive, which was the signature policy in a $5.7 billion injection of funds into Medicare announced in the Federal Budget last May, came into effect on 1 November.
 
It applies to concession card holders, pensioners and children, and was announced by the Government to address widespread decline in bulk bulling as more general practices moved to mixed and private billing.
 
The RACGP had called for the tripling of the incentive in its pre-Budget submission last year to relieve pressure on some of Australia’s most vulnerable patients, saying the measure would provide ‘targeted care for those who need it most’.
 
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins welcomed the increase in bulk billing rates, which followed one of the largest investments in Medicare for years.
 
‘Funding gets results,’ she said.
 
‘Last year’s Budget was the first step to strengthen Medicare. There is still a long way to go to repair the decades of cuts and neglect.’
 
Non-referred bulk-billed GP services had fallen to a record low of 76.5% nationally from July to September last year – the last period for which quarterly figures are available – down from a previous low of 78.1% recorded in the March quarter.
 
Patients skipping or pushing back appointments doubled in 2022–23, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data, which suggested that 7% of patients had put off seeing a GP due to costs.
 
Prior to the start of the incentive, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) had also reported a fall in the number GP services used in the first half of 2023 and noted steeper declines in lower socio-economic areas compared to more affluent regions.
 
While the bulk billing increase was 2.1% nationally, available data indicates significant regional variations. Along with a 5.7% rise in Tasmania, the rate went up more than 4% in regional Queensland, whole other rural sub-areas registered an even higher leap, with the Bendigo electorate in Victoria increasing eight percentage points (up from 67.3% in October to 75.3% in December).
 
The bulk billing incentive is tiered according to location as defined by the Modified Monash Model (MMM), with higher incentives for more remote locations.
 
Full data had not been released publicly across all government areas and electorates at the time of publication, while no breakdown of the impact in different age-groups and cardholder categories is yet available.
 
The RACGP President said the Medicare reforms currently underway are a chance to change the health system for the better.
 
‘After all the cuts and underfunding, the gap between patients’ rebates and the full costs of patient care has grown too wide,’ Dr Higgins said.
 
‘This is why our hospitals are under pressure, because when people can’t afford the care they need, they get sicker, and it ends up costing governments and taxpayers much more.
 
‘I look forward to continuing to work with the Government on further health reforms and strengthening Medicare to better meet the needs of patients today, and in the future.
 
‘We can and should make our health system more cost-effective and ensure all Australians can access affordable care from a GP to live healthier and longer.’
 
Dr Higgins is due to make a speech this morning at the Deakin University Medicare Conference to mark the exact anniversary of Medicare’s launch in 1984.
 
The RACGP President is expected to call for more investment in preventive care.
 
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