‘Over 1000’ clinics interested in bulk-billing incentive

Around one in five of the 4814 clinics deemed ‘likely’ to sign up to the new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) has expressed their interest so far, according to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA).
 
The topic was raised at Senate Estimates hearings last week by Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Senator Anne Ruston, who was told ‘over 900’ clinics had expressed an interest in the program.
 
DoHDA officials have since told newsGP the figure stood at ‘over 1000’ as of 10 October.
 
A spokesperson said the Department has been receiving expressions of interest (EOIs) at ‘a steady rate’ since the launch of its bulk-billing incentives calculator on 22 September.
 
‘We expect to continue receiving EOIs until the program goes live on 1 November,’ they told newsGP.
 
Separately, DoHDA documents recently published under the Freedom of Information Act put the number of clinics as ‘very likely’ to sign up under modelling at 2255 – or 34% out of a total of 6634 categorised.
 
There were a further 2559 clinics (39%) deemed ‘likely’ to join, and 1820 (27%) found to be ‘unlikely to join’.
 
The latter is four percentage points higher than the 23% figure published earlier this year in an incoming Government brief delivered to Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler after the May election.
 
DoHDA attributed the difference to a transcription error.
 
In that document, Minister Butler was advised that ‘some patients will still face out-of-pocket costs’ but that the program ‘may increase competition in the market and consumer demand for bulk billing, which may lead to higher uptake’ among clinics deemed unlikely to join.

A DoHDA spokesperson confirmed this week that their modelling categorised each general practice registered with the Practice Incentive Program according to whether it is very likely, likely or unlikely to join the BBPIP launching on 1 November.
 
At the Senate Estimates hearings last Thursday, DoHDA First Assistant Secretary Daniel McCabe also said around 800–850 practices were found to be fully bulk billing when the modelling was done.
 
He told Senator Ruston there had not been any analysis of whether clinics expressing an interest in BBPIP correlated with existing bulk-billing clinics. 
 
He also said that 3600 clinics are expected to sign up within the next two years and explained the reasoning behind the gradual build-up projected.
 
‘When we modelled this significant investment, we looked at what happens historically in Medicare when governments make interventions around bulk billing,’ Mr McCabe said.
 
‘We had a similar issue with bulk billing back in the early 2000s where the then Howard Government had to make a significant set of measures to try to increase bulk billing.
 
‘It took four years for GPs and practices to take on board all of those measures and roll them through, so we expect that kind of behaviour will occur in this instance as well.’
 
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said many members are still weighing up the pros and cons of the program.
 
‘It’s a big decision for a practice to change its billing model, so it’s not surprising there is a degree of caution,’ he told newsGP.
 
‘It’s not as simple as just looking at a spreadsheet; there’s a lot more involved in the running of a practice than meets the eye.
 
‘Clinics and GPs are only going to take this up if the numbers stack up – and they can see that it’s in the best interests of their patients, and their practice’s financial viability in the long run.’
 
He said the decision will depend on the circumstances of individual clinics.
 
‘For some practices, these announcements and additional funding will be a great support, particularly in rural and remote areas that have long needed targeted help,’ Dr Wright said.
 
‘However, I know that many GPs and practice owners around the country still have questions they want answered and remain unconvinced about whether these changes will work for them.
 
‘Importantly, there is no urgency to sign up before 1 November.
 
‘The college will continue to be there to support all clinics and GPs, regardless of the billing model they use.’ 
 
The RACGP has run a series of webinars in partnership with Cubiko, exploring how GPs and practices can prepare for the 1 November changes. Recordings are available on the Cubiko website.
 
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BBPIP bulk billing Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program