05/11/2025
From 1st November, the government has introduced new bulk billing incentives and are promoting a message that GPs will be “returning to bulk billing”. Unfortunately, for most GP clinics this is not a feasible option and Shepparton Women’s Health Centre (SWHC) is no different. We want to explain why.
At SWHC we pride ourselves on having great GPs. We don’t believe in the six minute medicine model. Our experienced GPs want to have the time to really listen and talk through issues with their patients, without feeling rushed. We aim to offer safe, personalised and thorough care for the huge range of minor to complex medical conditions that our patients present with.
We agree that quality medical care should be affordable for every person. We dream of the day that the government increases Medicare rebates to fully reimburse patients for such care. However, they have failed to do this for over 30 years and these new bulk billing incentives are also a long way from adequate. They reward fast, high turnover medicine. They do not cover the true costs of running a professional, high quality medical clinic.
Just to illustrate the issue ..… accepting these changes would mean SWHC receives approximately $22 less for every standard 15 minute GP appointment. Across five GP consulting rooms, this could reduce our revenue by $3,000 - $4,000 a day. We are a small, locally owned business and simply cannot cover our overhead costs with cuts as big as this. Our clinic would be unsustainable if we opted to become universally bulk billing.
We strongly encourage our patients to talk to our local federal member, about this issue and push for him and his colleagues to fight for increased Medicare rebates for all patients, without the bulk billing requirement.
We want to thank our patients for your loyalty and for continuing to trust us with your health and wellbeing. Your support means Shepparton keeps quality, independent general practice alive.
