23/02/2025
There is an announcement in the last 24 hours that the government would increase GP bulk billing rebates if re-elected. Reading between the lines - it will not change increase bulk billing for private billing GPs as the ‘incentive’ still fall about 30% shorter than standard GP consultation costs. Eg an item 23 (up to 20min consult) currently attracts a $42 rebate. With the incentives reaches $69. Current AMA fees and my current fee for this is just over $100.
They are not just ubiquitously increasing the GP rebate for your healthcare, only if it is bulk billed, which remains unsustainable for many practices.
The Medicare rebate is your rebate - you can ask for more from the government in this regard - however the discussion does need to be had whether healthcare can afford to be totally free and subsidised by the government. This is what the UK does and it currently does not function well, by most reports.
Healthcare being accessible is important, there are many factors to consider here and it is made difficult when politics influence it rather than it being a truly supportive model for all involved.
