Medicare review urges higher rebates for longer GP appointments

An independent Medicare advisory committee has released a draft report indicating that the current Medicare Benefits Schedule rewards brief GP consultations more than longer ones, effectively disadvantaging patients who need extended care, particularly women. The average rebate for a 20-to-40-minute appointment is $132, yet patients still pay around $52, with some gaps reaching $100, because the per-minute rebate declines as the visit lengthens.

Leaders from the Royal Australian College of GPs and the Australian Medical Association argue this structure encourages doctors to rush appointments and creates a gender pay gap. The report proposes raising rebates for consultations over 20 minutes as the fastest-to-implement change, while also suggesting bulk-billing incentives be linked to appointment duration and the removal of standalone items for services like acupuncture and antenatal care. Consultation on the draft is open until mid-October, with a final version to be submitted to the government by year-end.