A recent report shows that fewer than one in four Australian GP clinics are now offering bulk billing for adult consultations through Medicare. The data reveals a significant decline of more than 11 percent in the number of general practitioner (GP) clinics providing bulk bill consults in just one year. The national bulk billing rate has dropped from 34.7 percent in 2023 to 23.6 percent in 2024, according to the Cleanbill 2024 Blue Report.
The average out-of-pocket cost to see a GP in Australia has risen by 3.1 percent from $40.45 in 2023 to $41.68 in 2024. The report surveyed 6,091 clinics nationwide, including 2,098 in New South Wales, 1,488 in Victoria, and 1,264 in Queensland. New South Wales’s bulk billing rate has dropped by 11.4 percent from 48.6 percent to 37.2 percent.
In South Australia, only 9.5 percent of GP clinics bulk bill in 2024, down significantly from 23.1 percent in 2023. Western Australian bulk billing rates plummeted by 16.9 percent, Victorian rates by 9.7 percent, Queensland by 9.4 percent, Northern Territory by 9.1 percent, Tasmania by 5.3 percent, and 1.9 percent in the Australian Capital Territory. The report authors noted that fewer Australian clinics are offering bulk billing to patients in 2024, leading to higher out-of-pocket costs.
The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) said the new data from Cleanbill highlights the cost pressures on general practice and the increasing out-of-pocket costs for patients. RACGP President Nicole Higgins said the report shows more needs to be done to address the rising costs for care in Australia. Dr. Higgins attributed the current situation to the 10-year freeze on Medicare rebates. She noted that practices are also facing the same inflationary pressures as other businesses and that in multiple states, GPs are increasing patient out-of-pocket fees to cover higher state payroll tax on practitioners. Dr. Higgins emphasized the importance of affordable general practice care and urged the government to take action to secure the financial sustainability of general practice and ensure GP care is affordable for everyone.