Anne Stanley, Federal Member for Werriwa, says the government’s $8.5 billion Medicare bulk billing package will be a game changer.
“Bulk billing is the beating heart of Medicare and it’s only a Labor Government that will continue to strengthen our health care system,” Ms Stanley said.
From November 1, for the first time, bulk billing incentives will be paid to GPs for every patient they bulk bill.
Previously these incentives were only available to children under 16 and concession card holders.
This will mean nine out of 10 GP visits will be bulk billed by 2030, boosting the number of fully bulk billed practices to around 4,800 nationally – triple the current number.
Patients and families will save hundreds of dollars a year in out-of-pocket costs.
Already 17 GP practices in the Werriwa electorate have said they will become fully bulk billing clinics.
Further south, in the federal seat of Macarthur held by Dr Mike Freelander, 19 GP practices have said they will become fully bulk billing clinics.
Dr Freelander has also hailed the bulk billing package.
Registrations are also open for additional new incentive payments for practices and GPs that bulk bill every patient.
GP practices can calculate how much they will be better off and register for BBPIP by visiting health.gov.au/BBPIP.
