The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) has expressed concerns that many doctors are 'nervous' about the expanded bulk-billing incentive, fearing a return to being '100% reliant on government funding decisions'. The scheme, which came into effect this month, aims to increase the number of fully bulk-billing practices across Australia.
Health Minister Mark Butler announced that every electorate in the country will now have at least one GP practice that bulk bills every patient, with over 1,000 previously mixed-billing practices signing up. The government targets 90% of practices to be fully bulk-billing by 2030, up from the current 40%.
However, a report by health directory Cleanbill indicates that in some electorates, such as Clark in Tasmania and Shortland in New South Wales, the financial incentives may not be sufficient to attract clinics. Cleanbill's CEO James Gillespie noted that many clinics are 'right on the edge', charging only slightly more than the bulk-billing rebate.
Dr Alan Bradley, a Melbourne GP, stated that switching to full bulk-billing would require doubling patient throughput, leading to shorter appointments. RACGP President Dr Michael Wright acknowledged the increased investment but warned that the scheme may not work for all practices, citing a trust deficit after years of underfunding.
