Should we aim to bulk-bill everyone for GP visits? We asked 5 experts
- Written by: Ruth McHugh-Dillon, Assistant Health Editor
A new report[1] by a GP listing company made headlines[2] this week showing low rates of bulk billing for GP visits[3] across Australia.
Bulk billing[4] means the consultation is free for the patient and the GP accepts what Medicare covers (the “benefit” or “rebate”) as the full payment.
The highest reported bulk billing rate[5] was in New South Wales (34.5%) and the lowest in the ACT (3.3%) and Tasmania (0%). This caused the Tasmanian health minister to declare bulk billing “dead”[6] in her state.
But does this really mean no Tasmanians are being bulk-billed at the GP?
No – as federal health minister Mark Butler was quick to point out after the report’s release[7], the company asked 6,925 GP clinics only whether they had standard, weekday consultations available to be bulk-billed for adults with no concessions.
A range of people do have concessions – children under 16, pensioners and people with a health care card – meaning the actual bulk-billing rate is much higher, although Butler said he’d like it to be higher still[8].
How high should we be aiming? Many Australians may assume universal health care means it should be free to see a GP, regardless of your age, income or postcode.
So we asked five experts: should we be aiming to bulk-bill everyone?
Four out of five said yes.
Here are their detailed responses.
References
- ^ A new report (cleanbill.com.au)
- ^ made headlines (www.sbs.com.au)
- ^ low rates of bulk billing for GP visits (www.news.com.au)
- ^ Bulk billing (www.servicesaustralia.gov.au)
- ^ highest reported bulk billing rate (cleanbill.com.au)
- ^ declare bulk billing “dead” (www.premier.tas.gov.au)
- ^ was quick to point out after the report’s release (www.health.gov.au)
- ^ to be higher still (www.health.gov.au)