Bulk-billing rates surge as new Medicare incentives boost GP affordability

The RACGP’s annual report, based on a survey of 2,766 general practitioners, reveals that 26% of doctors now bulk-bill all patients, more than double the proportion a year earlier. This shift coincides with a federal program introduced in November that provides an additional 12.5% top-up payment split between practices and doctors for fully bulk-billing Medicare services. As a result, 63% of Australians receive all GP care without out-of-pocket fees, up from 56% in the two preceding years, though still shy of the 70% level recorded in 2019.

The report also notes a decline in the share of people postponing GP visits due to cost, dropping from 8.8% to 7.7%. Experts caution that the survey covers only about 7% of the GP workforce and stress the need to assess broader outcomes such as access, quality and health results. The RACGP calls for higher Medicare rebates for longer consultations and an independent pricing authority to align funding with the true cost of care.