Rise in Bulk Billing Rates
In the December quarter 2009, a total of $3.9 billion was paid in Medicare benefits for 79.1 million services.
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12 February 2010
In the December quarter 2009, a total of $3.9 billion was paid in Medicare benefits for 77.1 million services. This represented 3.5 services and about $179 in benefits for every Australian.
Last quarter, 73.9 per cent of all services were bulk billed, up 0.2 of a percentage point on the September quarter 2009 and up 0.1 of a percentage point on the December quarter 2008.
79.6 percent of non-referred (GP) attendances were bulk billed, up 0.8 of a percentage point on the September quarter 2009 and up 0.6 of a percentage point on the December quarter 2008.
Bulk billing for GP attendances in the December quarter 2009, compared with the December quarter 2008, show:
- NSW down 0.1 of a percentage point to 84.4 per cent
- Victoria up 1.3 percentage points to 78.6 per cent
- Queensland up 1.8 percentage points to 78.7 per cent
- South Australia down 0.4 of a percentage point to 79.0 per cent
- Western Australia up 0.1 of a percentage point to 72.5 per cent
- Tasmania up 1.0 percentage point to 74.6 per cent
- Northern Territory up 3.1 percentage points to 65.0 per cent
- ACT down 4.2 percentage points to 46.4 per cent.
For all media inquiries, please contact the Minister's Office on 02 6277 7220.
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