Health minister tells Australians to ‘ring around’ to find GPs who bulk bill | Medicare Australia

The health minister, Mark Butler, has encouraged Australians to “ring around” doctors in their area and “vote with your feet” to find GPs offering bulk billing, as concerns continue over whether enough is being done to stop medical clinics winding back subsidised visits.

Butler said the government would soon release new data on bulk billing to examine whether extra incentives are sufficiently boosting subsidised medical visits. But the minister could not say whether more help would be extended to address large gap fees for mental health appointments, a barrier psychologists say is leading Australians into “rationing” treatment.

Labor’s 2023 budget tripled incentives for general practitioners to offer bulk-billed medical appointments. Medical groups like the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners welcomed the move, which is expected to see an increase in bulk billing for concession card holders, but warned it may not boost bulk billing for general patients.

The college reported in November that the proportion of GPs bulk billing all of their patients had halved over the course of just one year, with a poll of GPs on its website finding most did not plan to change their billing schedule.

Speaking in Canberra on Monday to announce a commemorative edition of the Medicare card for the system’s 40th anniversary, Butler said about 73% of all GP consults nationwide were bulk billed – but conceded numbers varied widely across the country.

“We think there’s a very strong incentive now for GPs to increase their level of bulk billing … we’re hoping to have some real data to support the anecdotal feedback we’ve got that there has been a significant return to bulk billing.”

Butler cited rising costs for GPs, such as salaries and recruiting staff, especially in regional areas, which were being passed on to patients. He also said large numbers of regional doctors were retiring.

Asked if the data would be a “name and shame”, Butler said no, but added that people should do their own research.

“We want patients to know, if one practice in their area has changed their behaviour around bulk billing and another hasn’t, it’s entirely your right to vote with your feet … People can ring around and ask: ‘Are you bulk billing a consult for my kid who’s 14? Are you bulk billing me, I’m a concession card holder?’” he said.

“We want an active community discussion about this.”

Butler went on to say the government would be keeping a “close eye on gap fees” and other charges.

“We want to see a response from general practice to the very significant investment on behalf of taxpayers,” he said.

But the minister declined to say whether the government would act on concerns from mental health professionals about large gap fees for psychologist visits.

Many psychologists are charging about $300 a session, according to the Australian Psychology Society’s schedule of recommended fees, while Medicare provides between $93 and $137 depending on the psychologist’s qualifications. The Australian Association of Psychologists Inc wants the rebate lifted to at least $150, with its director, Carly Dobe, claiming patients were “rationing their treatment” due to cost pressures.

Butler said there were “a number of other challenges” around the mental health system, including issues around affordability and access especially in outer suburbs.

The government was criticised in 2022 for allowing the continuation of a Coalition government decision whereby subsidised appointments under Better Access – which had been temporarily boosted to 20 per year – would fall back to 10 visits. Butler strongly backed the decision to wind back visits, saying the increased number had made it harder for new patients to find appointments.

Butler is leading a review of Australia’s mental health funding system, with members to reconvene in coming weeks.