Record jump in bulk billing for Australians

Thanks to the Albanese Labor Government’s historic investment, new data shows Australians can now access over 3,400 Medicare Bulk Billing Practices across the country. The number continues to grow every week. Almost 1,300 of these practices were previously mixed billing.
 
In just three months, the bulk billing rate for all Australians has jumped to 81.4 per cent nationwide. This is the largest quarterly jump in bulk billing in 20 years (outside of the COVID pandemic).
 
For 16-64 year olds, there has been a 6.9 percentage point increase in the bulk billing rate, the largest quarterly increase on record.
 
There has been an increase in the GP bulk billing rate in every state and territory and there are more fully bulk billing practices in every state and territory.
 
Because of the Government’s delivery, approximately 96 per cent of Australians are now within a 20-minute drive of a registered Medicare Bulk Billing Practice.
 
In October 2023, before the Albanese Government tripled the bulk billing incentive for GPs who bulk bill children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders, the bulk billing rate was 75.6 per cent.
 
As a result of the 2023 changes, more than 9 in 10 visits for these patients are now bulk billed.
 
Australians can now find their closest Medicare Bulk Billing Practice at health.gov.au/bulk-billing.
 
This follows the Albanese Government’s historic $8.5 billion investment to strengthen Medicare. Since 1 November last year, bulk billing incentives are now paid to GPs for every patient they bulk bill and fully bulk billing practices also receive an additional payment.  

Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
 
“We promised Australians more bulk billing and that is what we have delivered.
 
“More Australians are finding it easier to find a bulk billing doctor in every state and territory.
 
“Doctors and practices are moving back to bulk billing because it works for patients and it works for their practices.
 
“Bulk billing is the beating heart of Medicare and that’s what our Government is delivering.”