Coasties benefit from bulk billing incentive

The Central Coast has seen some of the largest increases in bulk billing across Australia since the Federal Government tripled the bulk billing incentive, says Member for Dobell Emma McBride.

McBride said the initiative, a key part of the Government’s $6.1B Strengthening Medicare, was the largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare’s 40-year history.

“In regional communities like the Central Coast, we’ve seen an increase in bulk billing making it easier and more affordable for people to see a doctor,” she said.

“In the five months since we tripled the bulk billing incentive, more than 5,000 additional people in our community have had a bulk billed GP visit.”

McBride said in October, before the incentive was tripled, 69.7 per cent of all GP visits were bulk billed in the electorate of Dobell.

By December that jumped by about 5.5 per cent to 75.1 and it has now increased again to 75.5 per cent.

The increase in bulk billing means an estimated 5,100 additional trips to the GP were bulk billed in Dobell from November through to March, saving locals an estimated $218,000 in gap fees and helping to ease the cost-of-living.

McBride said bulk billing was in freefall after a decade of cuts and neglect by the former Liberal Government.

It has now stabilised, supporting GPs to bulk bill more patients who need care the most, she said.

The bulk billing incentive is paid on top of the standard Medicare benefit when doctors bulk bill children under 16, pensioners and other Commonwealth concession card holders.