Dr William Ghattas, General Practitioner: This Bulk Billing Incentive Program, it's actually an amazing gift to the GP and to the Australians in general. It helps the clinics to provide the needed care for the community, and also helps the clinic to get more income and more flow of patient to come and not to worry about the financial stress. It's all win-win situation for everyone.
Dr Mark Abdo, General Practitioner: They'll be able to access our GP clinic in an easier way and it's going to reduce the burden on the hospitals because the patients will be able to access primary care earlier.
Rebecca Thwaites, Practice Manager: Before we went bulk billing, we discussed things like doctor's incomes, our overhead costs, what it meant to have more patients, and then recruiting more doctors, more reception staff.
Dr Mark Abdo: And we did some calculations, and it turned out very beneficial for the clinic. The transition from mixed billing to bulk billing was a lot easier than what we thought.
Dr William Ghattas: It's actually a smooth process for the patient and for the doctor and the clinic, which is great for us.
Rebecca Thwaites: And since then it's been really successful. We have increased our numbers of patients. The reviews from the patients have been really positive.
Dr William Ghattas: This will provide a stable income for all the doctor and the clinic because it is related to the flow of the patient that comes to your clinic.
Leanne, Patient: The biggest benefit of this clinic moving to bulk billing means that more people can actually get in, come see a doctor.
Megan Campbell, Registered Nurse: We're getting more of our diabetic patients in doing their preventative care and chronic disease management, which has been fantastic.
Dr William Ghattas: These problems that we found out when we was mixed billing is gone with the incentive, and we have proved that this is really amazing for the clinic and to the doctor income in general and to the service that we can provide for everyone. And as a clinic owner as well, it was the best decision ever made so far.
For more information, visit the website health.gov.au/BBPIP.