Rising Doctor Visit Costs in Australia as Bulk Billing Clinics Decrease
A recent report shows that fewer than one in four Australian GP clinics are now offering bulk billing through Medicare for adult consultations.
The data indicates that the number of GP clinics providing bulk bill consults has decreased by more than 11 percent within a year, with the national bulk billing rate dropping from 34.7 percent in 2023 to 23.6 percent in 2024, as per the Cleanbill 2024 Blue Report (pdf).
The average out-of-pocket cost to see a GP in Australia has increased by 3.1 percent from $40.45 in 2023 to $41.68 (US$28) in 2024.
The report surveyed 6,091 clinics nationwide, including 2,098 in New South Wales, 1,488 in Victoria, and 1,264 in Queensland.
From 2023 to 2024, New South Wales’s bulk billing rate has decreased by 11.4 percent from 48.6 percent to 37.2 percent. Additionally, across different states, bulk billing rates have shown significant declines including South Australia (from 23.1 percent to 9.5 percent), Western Australia (16.9 percent decrease), Victoria (9.7 percent decrease), Queensland (9.4 percent decrease), Northern Territory (9.1 percent decrease), and Tasmania (5.3 percent decrease).
According to the report, 514 clinics, which bulk billed all patients at the beginning of the year, had stopped by November 2023, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs for patients.
The RACGP President Nicole Higgins stated that the situation may be due to the 10-year freeze on Medicare rebates and the increasing costs faced by general practices. She highlighted the need for further measures to make care affordable for the majority of the population and stressed the importance of ensuring the financial sustainability of general practice while enabling bulk billing for those who need it, and ensuring GP care is affordable for everyone.
