More GPs are bulk billing patients in Gilmore as a direct result of the tripling of the bulk billing incentive by the Albanese Government, with more than two million additional bulk billed visits across the country since 1 November 2023.
In the month before the bulk billing incentive was tripled on 1 November 2023, 78.4% of all GP visits were bulk billed in Gilmore. Over the next seven months the bulk billing rate increased by 5.7 percentage points to 84.1% in May.
Gilmore residents have also saved $2,056,110 on the cost of their medicines, thanks to the Albanese Government’s cheaper medicines policies, including our landmark 60-day prescriptions reforms and the largest cut to the maximum patient copayment in the 75-year history of the PBS. Almost 50,000 60-day scripts have been filled in Gilmore until May 2024.
This week, the Albanese Government also delivered the second largest increase to Medicare rebates in 30 years, with $900 million in additional Medicare funding. This comes on top of the $940 million delivered last year, in the largest increase in 30 years.
This means that in just two years, the Albanese Government has increased Medicare rebates by twice as much as the former government did in their nine years in office.
Seven months of official Medicare billing data shows that after a decade of cuts and neglect from the Liberals, the slide in the GP bulk billing rate has stopped and bulk billing rates continue to improve each month.
Nationally, the GP bulk billing rate was 79.0% in May, a rise of 3.4% since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect on 1 November.
Australians living in regional and rural areas have seen the biggest increases, with an estimated additional 900,000 bulk billed visits since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect.
Thanks to the Albanese Government, there is more bulk billing in Gilmore.
Quotes attributable to Minister Butler:
“Doctors’ groups have called our tripling of the bulk billing incentive a ‘game changer’ – and clearly it is in Gilmore.
“After a decade of cuts and neglect to Medicare by the Liberals bulk billing was in freefall.
“The pressure on general practice began when Peter Dutton was Health Minister and he tried to do away with bulk billing by introducing a fee on every single visit to the GP, and then started a six-year freeze on Medicare rebates.
“The Albanese Government committed to making it easier for people to see a bulk billing doctor – and that is exactly what is happening right around the country, particularly in rural and regional Australia.”
“This is a win all round – for patients, doctors and the health system – and it is helping make Medicare stronger.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Gilmore Fiona Phillips:
“People in Gilmore know that after a decade of cuts and neglect from Peter Dutton and the Liberals, it was increasingly hard to find a bulk billing doctor.
“Now, thanks to the Albanese Government there is more bulk billing in our region.
“This is delivering significant cost of living relief for local people.
“Labor introduced Medicare and only Labor can be trusted to strengthen and protect it.”
TUESDAY, 2 JULY 2024
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Minister Butler - Mike Clay: 0424 414 412
Fiona Phillips – Katrina Condie: 0437 662 967
