Medicare bulk billing and related statistics - March quarter 2008
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16 May 2008
In the March quarter 2008, 73.7 per cent of all Medicare services were bulk-billed, an increase of 0.3 of a percentage point on the December quarter 2007.
This increase was particularly influenced by higher rates of bulk-billing for non-referred (GP) attendances. In the March quarter 2008, 78.5 per cent of non-referred (GP) attendances were bulk-billed, an increase of 0.3 of a percentage point on the December 2007 quarter and an increase of 1.1 percentage points on the March quarter 2007.
Bulk-billing rates for GP attendances in the March quarter 2008 compared with the December quarter 2007 show:
- New South Wales up 0.1 of a percentage point to 84.1 per cent
- Victoria up 0.3 of a percentage point to 76.4 per cent
- Queensland up 0.5 of a percentage point to 76.2 per cent
- South Australia up 0.6 of a percentage point to 78.7 per cent
- Western Australia down 0.5 of a percentage point to 71.8 per cent
- Tasmania up 0.3 of a percentage point to 73.3 per cent
- Northern Territory down 0.2 of a percentage point to 62.9 per cent
- Australian Capital Territory up 0.9 of a percentage point to 52.2 per cent.
In the March quarter 2008, Medicare Australia processed 66.1 million services, involving benefits of $3.1 billion.
In the nine months ending March 2008, Medicare Australia processed claims for 204.8 million services involving benefits of $9.5 billion. This represented around 9.7 services and $451.12 in benefits for every Australian.
Full details of the statistics may be found at www.health.gov.au/medicarestats
Media contact: Sean Kelly - 0417 108 362
Mark Ward - 0437 – 125 362
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