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

1. ^{^} A new report (cleanbill.com.au)
2. ^{^} made headlines (www.sbs.com.au)
3. ^{^} low rates of bulk billing for GP visits (www.news.com.au)
4. ^{^} Bulk billing (www.servicesaustralia.gov.au)
5. ^{^} highest reported bulk billing rate (cleanbill.com.au)
6. ^{^} declare bulk billing “dead” (www.premier.tas.gov.au)
7. ^{^} was quick to point out after the report’s release (www.health.gov.au)
8. ^{^} to be higher still (www.health.gov.au)