I think we can all agree when I say health care should be easily accessible, affordable, and available to all Australians. Unfortunately, with the current out-of-pocket expenses we are currently facing, we aren’t seeing an easily accessible healthcare system, with some Australians having to avoid going to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it.

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now.

What many of us don't realise is that our most trusted and respected healthcare providers – General Practitioners – are the ones who, in many ways, bear the brunt of the burden.

Recent reports revealed that the way in which General Practitioners are being compensated for their services is perhaps a little outdated and unfair.

For the first time in history, the average fee for seeing a general practitioner is now higher than the government rebate for Medicare. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.

Data showed that for the first time ever, GP fees were higher than what the Medicare rebate was for a standard 20-minute consultation – which is $41 and $39.26, respectively – leading to Dr Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for an urgent fix.

'What we need is an urgent increase in the rebate. The money the patient gets back from the government when they see a GP hasn't kept up with the cost of providing that service,' she said.

Another issue directly related to this is the fact that bulk billing rates are at an all-time low.

Dr Danielle McMullen from the Australian Medical Association told a news platform that the official 83 per cent figure was likely only a quarter of the true number of people who are struggling to find a GP service that's affordable for them.

'We do think that those numbers around 83 per cent are picking and choosing the figures bit. We do hear from patients that it's more difficult than that,' she added.

Doctors' groups say that federal payments haven't kept up with rising costs, so more and more general practitioners can't afford to offer bulk billing. Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring.

While these are crucial issues that all require immediate attention, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that the government's plan is to open 50 new urgent care clinics around the nation by July, to hopefully ease the burden on the health system.

Where these clinics will be located and if the timeline is on track is something the PM remains tight-lipped about.

This news comes after the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews, have urged the Albanese government to substantially increase funding for Medicare.

A few weeks ago, the two leaders jointly initiated a campaign for the national cabinet meeting to address primary care with a sense of urgency, advocating for pay increases for GPs, an expansion of university places to train more doctors, and improved coordination with hospitals.

Perrottet told the press that he aspired to see an increase in bulk-billing rates to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Key Takeaways

• The latest data shows that the bulk billing rate for GPs reached a low of 83 per cent last year in Australia.
• The average fee for a 20-minute consultation has exceeded the Medicare rebate for the first time in history.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association are both calling for an increase in the rebate.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to open urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure on the health system. However, the locations of these clinics are yet to be confirmed.

Members, if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation, please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000 rather than going to a GP.

With respect to regular check-ups or other medical advice, we strongly recommend that you take the time to see a GP if you can afford it. Do your research beforehand to find one that is suitable for your needs and, most importantly, affordable.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below!

 

[Luckyus]

I think we can all agree when I say health care should be easily accessible, affordable, and available to all Australians. Unfortunately, with the current out-of-pocket expenses we are currently facing, we aren’t seeing an easily accessible healthcare system, with some Australians having to avoid going to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it.

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now.

What many of us don't realise is that our most trusted and respected healthcare providers – General Practitioners – are the ones who, in many ways, bear the brunt of the burden.

Recent reports revealed that the way in which General Practitioners are being compensated for their services is perhaps a little outdated and unfair.

View attachment 11717

For the first time in history, the average fee for seeing a general practitioner is now higher than the government rebate for Medicare. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.

Data showed that for the first time ever, GP fees were higher than what the Medicare rebate was for a standard 20-minute consultation – which is $41 and $39.26, respectively – leading to Dr Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for an urgent fix.

'What we need is an urgent increase in the rebate. The money the patient gets back from the government when they see a GP hasn't kept up with the cost of providing that service,' she said.

Another issue directly related to this is the fact that bulk billing rates are at an all-time low.

Dr Danielle McMullen from the Australian Medical Association told a news platform that the official 83 per cent figure was likely only a quarter of the true number of people who are struggling to find a GP service that's affordable for them.

'We do think that those numbers around 83 per cent are picking and choosing the figures bit. We do hear from patients that it's more difficult than that,' she added.

View attachment 11718

Doctors' groups say that federal payments haven't kept up with rising costs, so more and more general practitioners can't afford to offer bulk billing. Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring.

While these are crucial issues that all require immediate attention, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that the government's plan is to open 50 new urgent care clinics around the nation by July, to hopefully ease the burden on the health system.

Where these clinics will be located and if the timeline is on track is something the PM remains tight-lipped about.

This news comes after the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews, have urged the Albanese government to substantially increase funding for Medicare.

A few weeks ago, the two leaders jointly initiated a campaign for the national cabinet meeting to address primary care with a sense of urgency, advocating for pay increases for GPs, an expansion of university places to train more doctors, and improved coordination with hospitals.

Perrottet told the press that he aspired to see an increase in bulk-billing rates to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Key Takeaways

• The latest data shows that the bulk billing rate for GPs reached a low of 83 per cent last year in Australia.
• The average fee for a 20-minute consultation has exceeded the Medicare rebate for the first time in history.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association are both calling for an increase in the rebate.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to open urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure on the health system. However, the locations of these clinics are yet to be confirmed.

Members, if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation, please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000 rather than going to a GP.

With respect to regular check-ups or other medical advice, we strongly recommend that you take the time to see a GP if you can afford it. Do your research beforehand to find one that is suitable for your needs and, most importantly, affordable.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below!

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now. Make it all more expensive. Exactly like the stupidity of locking everything down during the Pandemic, They don't have to wait till the end of the year, people need help now.

 

[Rob44]

If the medical profession is concerned that there are too few GPs around and are concerned that people may not be able to afford to see a GP, the answer is simple. End the utterly fatuous demand that only those school-leavers who score 99.95% when leaving school may be admitted (once they have passed the UMAT intelligence test) to medical school, any one of which will charge the highest possible level tuition fees that it can. (e.g. Melbourne University web-site advertises its full medical school tuition fees at around $350 000, half the cost of a modest house these days). And medical schools are moving to preferring post-graduate students, which entails a previous 4 years of paying tuition fees for getting a good Honours degree before applying for a place at a medical school.

Anyone who can get First Class Honours Degree in Physics and Mathematics has the intelligence to become a medical doctor and yet to enter University for such a Degree does not entail being among those who have scored 99.95% when leaving school. On that count, the medical profession is operating a "closed shop" to our detriment.

As for income; it takes about 10 years to train a competent GP, which includes a considerable amount of lost income before earnings kick in. However, most scientists with PhD Degrees in Australia also undergo about 10 years of training before they are useful to their science and yet their hourly pay rate before costs is commonly considerably less than that of a great many medical doctors.

 

[Suzanne rose]

My GP is amazing only problem is you basically need to book 2 weeks ahead as she is booked out that far ahead. She deserves a pay rise.
Unfortunately Doctors in other medical centres I've had to visit when couldn't get an appointment with my doctor, I've walked away questioning if they are actually doctors and how they just made $40 for no more than 5 minutes.

I have friends whose doctor has retired or moved and are having trouble funding another GP due to alot of doctors not taking on new patients.

My last gripe is if you are paying for private health insurance why can't you claim for Doctors and specialists. In the 70s you could !

 

[Penny4]

These days medical students don't aspire to become a GP. They desire the high $$ being a surgeon.
With this outcome, we see Dr's who value the $, or else we see kind, caring Dr's who view it as a vocation with healthcare.

 

[Liz]

I have a fabulous GP who is a bit older and we were discussing the issue of her bulk billing which she is doing at the moment for some patients depending on time of day. She explained to me that when she works at night/weekends, her fee goes to pay not only the practice nurse and receptionist but what is left, which is very little, goes to her after the cost of having rooms in the practice. I think, personally, there needs to be more GP's but how do you get them to go into GP practices when the lure of high paying specialties attract them. After all the GP is the base you go to who then refers you on, if needed. I wouldn't mind paying my GP because she has saved my life on a couple of occasions. I wouldn't be able to see her as often but she always has said to me, if I am in desperate need of services, just to come as a walk-in. The practice has quite a few GP's all of whom are great, but not all of them bulk bill. I think the government needs to totally look at the remuneration of doctors through Medicare because we are going to lose more wonderful GP's like mine, if the situation gets much worse.

 

[Plow]

Totally agree to Rob44.
I feel the GP's are milking the system just because they can.
Being a doctor used to be a profession to help others but not any longer. It used to be an honourable profession and not to be on easy street.

The government should increase the Medicare rebate but if any GP charges an additional fee over it, the GP will not be entitled to the entire rebate paid. So patients would have to pay the entire fee to see that particular doctor that over-charges. Let's see how many can afford to lose patients.
I also agree that the education system is too stringent and if we allow more doctors in the system, there will be more options for us patients.
I'm sorry but I don't see any GPs doing it hard.
The doctors in my clinic drive really expensive cars i.e. not your ordinary Lexus (which is already an upmarket car brand) but the top-of-the-line LC model and another Mercedes S class and they are GPs not even specialists and they bulk bill. So if my clinic GPs are doing so well how much more money do the others really need to be satisfied?
There are so many other professions doing it much harder and only getting by.

 

[Ducky2]

I think we can all agree when I say health care should be easily accessible, affordable, and available to all Australians. Unfortunately, with the current out-of-pocket expenses we are currently facing, we aren’t seeing an easily accessible healthcare system, with some Australians having to avoid going to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it.

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now.

What many of us don't realise is that our most trusted and respected healthcare providers – General Practitioners – are the ones who, in many ways, bear the brunt of the burden.

Recent reports revealed that the way in which General Practitioners are being compensated for their services is perhaps a little outdated and unfair.

View attachment 11717

For the first time in history, the average fee for seeing a general practitioner is now higher than the government rebate for Medicare. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.

Data showed that for the first time ever, GP fees were higher than what the Medicare rebate was for a standard 20-minute consultation – which is $41 and $39.26, respectively – leading to Dr Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for an urgent fix.

'What we need is an urgent increase in the rebate. The money the patient gets back from the government when they see a GP hasn't kept up with the cost of providing that service,' she said.

Another issue directly related to this is the fact that bulk billing rates are at an all-time low.

Dr Danielle McMullen from the Australian Medical Association told a news platform that the official 83 per cent figure was likely only a quarter of the true number of people who are struggling to find a GP service that's affordable for them.

'We do think that those numbers around 83 per cent are picking and choosing the figures bit. We do hear from patients that it's more difficult than that,' she added.

View attachment 11718

Doctors' groups say that federal payments haven't kept up with rising costs, so more and more general practitioners can't afford to offer bulk billing. Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring.

While these are crucial issues that all require immediate attention, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that the government's plan is to open 50 new urgent care clinics around the nation by July, to hopefully ease the burden on the health system.

Where these clinics will be located and if the timeline is on track is something the PM remains tight-lipped about.

This news comes after the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews, have urged the Albanese government to substantially increase funding for Medicare.

A few weeks ago, the two leaders jointly initiated a campaign for the national cabinet meeting to address primary care with a sense of urgency, advocating for pay increases for GPs, an expansion of university places to train more doctors, and improved coordination with hospitals.

Perrottet told the press that he aspired to see an increase in bulk-billing rates to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Key Takeaways

• The latest data shows that the bulk billing rate for GPs reached a low of 83 per cent last year in Australia.
• The average fee for a 20-minute consultation has exceeded the Medicare rebate for the first time in history.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association are both calling for an increase in the rebate.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to open urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure on the health system. However, the locations of these clinics are yet to be confirmed.

Members, if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation, please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000 rather than going to a GP.

With respect to regular check-ups or other medical advice, we strongly recommend that you take the time to see a GP if you can afford it. Do your research beforehand to find one that is suitable for your needs and, most importantly, affordable.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below!

U

 

[Ducky2]

I believe not all 99% passes are cut out to be Dr’s or nurses it should depend on their dedication to the industry and really most pensioners and people on benefits could afford to have $2 a fortnight or month even taken to help in medical matters such as Dr rebates people will just stop going to Dr if the rebate isn’t fixed which will cost more in the long run as there will be no preventive measures meaning people will get sicker requiring hospitalisation which cost more.

 

[Suzanne rose]

These days medical students don't aspire to become a GP. They desire the high $$ being a surgeon.
With this outcome, we see Dr's who value the $, or else we see kind, caring Dr's who view it as a vocation with healthcare.

I actually wonder how many doctors would do any form of volunteer work

 

[Isabella]

I think we can all agree when I say health care should be easily accessible, affordable, and available to all Australians. Unfortunately, with the current out-of-pocket expenses we are currently facing, we aren’t seeing an easily accessible healthcare system, with some Australians having to avoid going to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it.

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now.

What many of us don't realise is that our most trusted and respected healthcare providers – General Practitioners – are the ones who, in many ways, bear the brunt of the burden.

Recent reports revealed that the way in which General Practitioners are being compensated for their services is perhaps a little outdated and unfair.

View attachment 11717

For the first time in history, the average fee for seeing a general practitioner is now higher than the government rebate for Medicare. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.

Data showed that for the first time ever, GP fees were higher than what the Medicare rebate was for a standard 20-minute consultation – which is $41 and $39.26, respectively – leading to Dr Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for an urgent fix.

'What we need is an urgent increase in the rebate. The money the patient gets back from the government when they see a GP hasn't kept up with the cost of providing that service,' she said.

Another issue directly related to this is the fact that bulk billing rates are at an all-time low.

Dr Danielle McMullen from the Australian Medical Association told a news platform that the official 83 per cent figure was likely only a quarter of the true number of people who are struggling to find a GP service that's affordable for them.

'We do think that those numbers around 83 per cent are picking and choosing the figures bit. We do hear from patients that it's more difficult than that,' she added.

View attachment 11718

Doctors' groups say that federal payments haven't kept up with rising costs, so more and more general practitioners can't afford to offer bulk billing. Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring.

While these are crucial issues that all require immediate attention, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that the government's plan is to open 50 new urgent care clinics around the nation by July, to hopefully ease the burden on the health system.

Where these clinics will be located and if the timeline is on track is something the PM remains tight-lipped about.

This news comes after the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews, have urged the Albanese government to substantially increase funding for Medicare.

A few weeks ago, the two leaders jointly initiated a campaign for the national cabinet meeting to address primary care with a sense of urgency, advocating for pay increases for GPs, an expansion of university places to train more doctors, and improved coordination with hospitals.

Perrottet told the press that he aspired to see an increase in bulk-billing rates to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Key Takeaways

• The latest data shows that the bulk billing rate for GPs reached a low of 83 per cent last year in Australia.
• The average fee for a 20-minute consultation has exceeded the Medicare rebate for the first time in history.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association are both calling for an increase in the rebate.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to open urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure on the health system. However, the locations of these clinics are yet to be confirmed.

Members, if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation, please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000 rather than going to a GP.

With respect to regular check-ups or other medical advice, we strongly recommend that you take the time to see a GP if you can afford it. Do your research beforehand to find one that is suitable for your needs and, most importantly, affordable.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below!

My GP has introduced co-payment for the first time in 20 yrs [was Bulk Billed], I now pay $75 [concession] per 15 minutes. My cost is a little over $40, hurts my pocket to pay the $75 but I pay because of my complex medical history. What else can I do but pay other than longer times between appointments!

 

[SusieB]

The article is well balanced-thank you
I am a GP and whilst there are GPS who milk the system, there are many who do not and cannot afford to practice if they bulk bill.
I have never turned away a patient who cannot afford to pay. They are bulk billed.
I cannot turnover the ridiculous number of bulk billed patients required to make ends meet. To do so would be cheating patients of the correct careful healthcare. Very often, patients require 30 minutes or more for complex issues.
GPS are being bashed by both Medicare and patients and it is no wonder that young doctors shy away from a career as a GP.
The rebate does not reflect what a doctor is worth. It does not reflect what is required to run a practice and pay for continuing education, medical indemnity costs, registration fees, membership of colleges of GP and AMA feed amongst some costs.
It is a reflection of not enough funding.
It is a rebate not a reflection of the worth of a doctor’s work.
I am saddened by those who cheat the system but the majority do not and they find themselves overworked, undervalued and struggling to pay their bills.

 

[Genhillier24]

I shattered a vertabra and am on the minimum pain patch that I can get (I am allergic to many, and or hate drugs) BUT even so I have to get a script for 1 per weekly patch, for 4 weeks from my Doctor. My Doctor has to be booked about two weeks ahead for starters, then by Law (which I agree with) he can only give a script for one months supply. This didn't bother me, however, until I received notification that very soon there will be no bulk billing. This means that every month I will have to pay about half of the cost of the script (about $30). To some people this is ok but I am on a disability pension. To add insult to injury, the largest pay rise we have received was late last year and now half of that pay rise is swallowed up on my medication. Some people will be taking that money out of their food budget to cover this. We are an aging nation. Well CoVid decimated a lot of aged care people, now not being able to afford a Doctor and/or food will likely kill a lot more. Dramatic you think......the cost of living in the last few years has gone up so much and petrol.....where does it end. We need help.

 

[Nana Zorak]

I now pay to see my doctor once a month for repeat scripts. At one time the doctor would write a 6-month script but because I am on an opiate I need a new script each month. I pay $62.00 & I get $39.50 back as a pensioner this is why I only go to see her on a pension day for I know there is money in the bank. I don't know what would happen if I needed emergency treatment what with our situation of ambulance ramping in Queensland, that is if an ambulance turns up in time!

 

[Noelene Lyon]

I think we can all agree when I say health care should be easily accessible, affordable, and available to all Australians. Unfortunately, with the current out-of-pocket expenses we are currently facing, we aren’t seeing an easily accessible healthcare system, with some Australians having to avoid going to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it.

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now.

What many of us don't realise is that our most trusted and respected healthcare providers – General Practitioners – are the ones who, in many ways, bear the brunt of the burden.

Recent reports revealed that the way in which General Practitioners are being compensated for their services is perhaps a little outdated and unfair.

View attachment 11717

For the first time in history, the average fee for seeing a general practitioner is now higher than the government rebate for Medicare. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.

Data showed that for the first time ever, GP fees were higher than what the Medicare rebate was for a standard 20-minute consultation – which is $41 and $39.26, respectively – leading to Dr Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for an urgent fix.

'What we need is an urgent increase in the rebate. The money the patient gets back from the government when they see a GP hasn't kept up with the cost of providing that service,' she said.

Another issue directly related to this is the fact that bulk billing rates are at an all-time low.

Dr Danielle McMullen from the Australian Medical Association told a news platform that the official 83 per cent figure was likely only a quarter of the true number of people who are struggling to find a GP service that's affordable for them.

'We do think that those numbers around 83 per cent are picking and choosing the figures bit. We do hear from patients that it's more difficult than that,' she added.

View attachment 11718

Doctors' groups say that federal payments haven't kept up with rising costs, so more and more general practitioners can't afford to offer bulk billing. Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring.

While these are crucial issues that all require immediate attention, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that the government's plan is to open 50 new urgent care clinics around the nation by July, to hopefully ease the burden on the health system.

Where these clinics will be located and if the timeline is on track is something the PM remains tight-lipped about.

This news comes after the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews, have urged the Albanese government to substantially increase funding for Medicare.

A few weeks ago, the two leaders jointly initiated a campaign for the national cabinet meeting to address primary care with a sense of urgency, advocating for pay increases for GPs, an expansion of university places to train more doctors, and improved coordination with hospitals.

Perrottet told the press that he aspired to see an increase in bulk-billing rates to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Key Takeaways

• The latest data shows that the bulk billing rate for GPs reached a low of 83 per cent last year in Australia.
• The average fee for a 20-minute consultation has exceeded the Medicare rebate for the first time in history.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association are both calling for an increase in the rebate.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to open urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure on the health system. However, the locations of these clinics are yet to be confirmed.

Members, if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation, please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000 rather than going to a GP.

With respect to regular check-ups or other medical advice, we strongly recommend that you take the time to see a GP if you can afford it. Do your research beforehand to find one that is suitable for your needs and, most importantly, affordable.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below!

Families

 

[Noelene Lyon]

Families

Families are doing it really tough with cost of living expenses, which is putting a strain on the health & in turn the medical profession. Albanese has recognised this, but it’s going to take time. Time is sending people to the brink! Would love to read others opinions on this topic

 

[Marj53]

My GP is amazing only problem is you basically need to book 2 weeks ahead as she is booked out that far ahead. She deserves a pay rise.
Unfortunately Doctors in other medical centres I've had to visit when couldn't get an appointment with my doctor, I've walked away questioning if they are actually doctors and how they just made $40 for no more than 5 minutes.

I have friends whose doctor has retired or moved and are having trouble funding another GP due to alot of doctors not taking on new patients.

My last gripe is if you are paying for private health insurance why can't you claim for Doctors and specialists. In the 70s you could !

So agree with you. When we took out private medical in the 70's. It covered everything. All doctors and hospital bills. We didn't have to pay anything extra.

 

[Shane/#]

I think we can all agree when I say health care should be easily accessible, affordable, and available to all Australians. Unfortunately, with the current out-of-pocket expenses we are currently facing, we aren’t seeing an easily accessible healthcare system, with some Australians having to avoid going to the doctor because they simply cannot afford it.

Although Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, has told us he'll have a plan or a solution to the problem by the end of the year (which we can all appreciate), the pressure is still on to make changes to the current system right now.

What many of us don't realise is that our most trusted and respected healthcare providers – General Practitioners – are the ones who, in many ways, bear the brunt of the burden.

Recent reports revealed that the way in which General Practitioners are being compensated for their services is perhaps a little outdated and unfair.

View attachment 11717

For the first time in history, the average fee for seeing a general practitioner is now higher than the government rebate for Medicare. Credit: Pexels/Pixabay.

Data showed that for the first time ever, GP fees were higher than what the Medicare rebate was for a standard 20-minute consultation – which is $41 and $39.26, respectively – leading to Dr Nicole Higgins from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners calling for an urgent fix.

'What we need is an urgent increase in the rebate. The money the patient gets back from the government when they see a GP hasn't kept up with the cost of providing that service,' she said.

Another issue directly related to this is the fact that bulk billing rates are at an all-time low.

Dr Danielle McMullen from the Australian Medical Association told a news platform that the official 83 per cent figure was likely only a quarter of the true number of people who are struggling to find a GP service that's affordable for them.

'We do think that those numbers around 83 per cent are picking and choosing the figures bit. We do hear from patients that it's more difficult than that,' she added.

View attachment 11718

Doctors' groups say that federal payments haven't kept up with rising costs, so more and more general practitioners can't afford to offer bulk billing. Credit: Pexels/Gustavo Fring.

While these are crucial issues that all require immediate attention, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says that the government's plan is to open 50 new urgent care clinics around the nation by July, to hopefully ease the burden on the health system.

Where these clinics will be located and if the timeline is on track is something the PM remains tight-lipped about.

This news comes after the premiers of New South Wales and Victoria, Dominic Perrottet and Daniel Andrews, have urged the Albanese government to substantially increase funding for Medicare.

A few weeks ago, the two leaders jointly initiated a campaign for the national cabinet meeting to address primary care with a sense of urgency, advocating for pay increases for GPs, an expansion of university places to train more doctors, and improved coordination with hospitals.

Perrottet told the press that he aspired to see an increase in bulk-billing rates to alleviate pressure on hospitals.

Key Takeaways

• The latest data shows that the bulk billing rate for GPs reached a low of 83 per cent last year in Australia.
• The average fee for a 20-minute consultation has exceeded the Medicare rebate for the first time in history.
• The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and the Australian Medical Association are both calling for an increase in the rebate.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced plans to open urgent care clinics to help relieve pressure on the health system. However, the locations of these clinics are yet to be confirmed.

Members, if you ever find yourself in an urgent situation, please do not hesitate to contact emergency services on 000 rather than going to a GP.

With respect to regular check-ups or other medical advice, we strongly recommend that you take the time to see a GP if you can afford it. Do your research beforehand to find one that is suitable for your needs and, most importantly, affordable.

What are your thoughts on this? Share them with us in the comments below!

My doctor before covid to get a script went down sat at a certain time saw him bulk billed now it's an appointment for $85 or phone consult for $65 and bulk billed before covid for all his excuse doctor's haven't had a pay rise but my belief is he work's for a group so I'd say he has a quota to fill day by day so he is a number and I know in the past if the doctor didn't put the people through they were gone

 

[Suzanne rose]

Can I ask a question .

Who is no longer bulked bill and what state are you in.

What Ive been reading it seems Queenslanders are nolonger bulked bill

I'm in NSW and my doctor bulk bills except for Saturday's then you oay $75

 

[maggiej]

When we had a young family in the 60s most people had medical insurance otherwise they had bills from the doctor. I don't know how they coped without. We were not on a good wage and only one working so we had HBF in WA. our first son developed Asthma and the second had tonsillitis so we were constantly needing medical help so it was a godsend to have HBF. Of course, it was a struggle. As time has gone on there have been so many options with medicare etc that people have become used to using this method. I believe that all our hardship in those years has made us realise we should be considering just where we spend our money.