25/11/2025
What’s changed with Medicare?
Recently, the Government began offering medical practices across Australia incentives aimed at encouraging bulk billing. At practices able to take up this offer, the full cost of most GP consultations will be paid as a full Medicare rebate – so, no gap fee for you.
Did our practice take up the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program?
No.
We looked carefully at what was offered and found that the incentive alone won't allow us to provide the care you expect and deserve.
The reality is the new incentive payments still doesn't cover the cost of care for all patients, particularly for longer and more complex consultations.
To continue to operate our general practice service, we need to be sustainable. This means covering all the expenses it takes to stay open as a privately-owned general practice service.
As the incentives alone won’t allow us to provide the care you expect and deserve, we will continue to charge a fee for most consultations. This is not new to our practice but a continuation of the fee-paying arrangements we already have in place. We already bulk bill people and their children who have concession cards, and those who need health assessments, care plans and home medication reviews.
Why should I still come to this practice if I can go to another bulk billing practice?
We value you and your family and want to maintain a long-term relationship with you. We appreciate that you choose our team at Cygnet Family Practice for your health care and know that your health outcomes are better under the continuous, comprehensive care of our GPs and nurses. Kind, holistic health care you value.
Feedback can be provided to racgp.org.au
Kind regards
Kerrie Duggan
Nurse Practitioner
Co-Owner Cygnet Family Practice
