Bulk-billing rates have increased across the country, but growth has been the smallest in the ACT. Photo: Robyn Mac.
The bulk-billing rate has increased in the ACT since the Federal Government’s targeted investment in the scheme, but Canberra still lags behind the rest of the country.
Government figures just released show bulk-billing rates rose nationally in the June quarter, from 81.9 per cent to 84.1 per cent. Before Labor started its renewed investment in bulk-billing, the national rate had fallen to 75.6 per cent.
The biggest jump in the June quarter was in the Northern Territory, where its rates increased 13.0 percentage points to reach 90.8 per cent bulk-billing.
In the ACT, however, bulk-billing rates have increased by just 2.4 percentage points over the quarter to 59.3 per cent.
NSW was up 4.1 points to hit an 87.5 per cent rate; Victoria up 5.7 points to 85.7 per cent; Queensland increased 4,7 points to 82 per cent; South Australia up 6.0 points to 82.5 per cent; Tasmania’s rate grew 5.5 percentage points to 80.8 per cent; and Western Australia was up 4.8 points to 76.8 per cent.
The Federal Government committed $8.5 billion at the 2025 federal election to expand bulk-billing rates.
It has a stated goal of making 9 out of 10 GP visits free for patients by 2030.
The bulk billing rate for patients aged 16 to 64 years had the highest growth, increasing 8.2 percentage points to 78.6 per cent.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said there are now more than 3800 Medicare Bulk Billing Practices across Australia, with 1400 of those being mixed-billing practices before the government’s investments.
“Our government is delivering more bulk billing to more Australians,” he said.
“Across the country more and more GP practices are becoming fully bulk billing clinics, meaning all patients need is their Medicare card, not their credit card.
“It’s good for patients’ hip pockets and good for their health.”
The Minister said the almost five percentage point increase on the same quarter last year shows the bulk-billing rate nationally was continuing to increase “way ahead” of schedule.
Mr Butler also turned his attention to the government’s National Disability Insurance Scheme reforms, saying he wants them passed as soon as possible.
Getting them through the Senate this fortnight of parliament, the first sitting weeks after the mid-winter break, looked like it might be a big ask, as negotiations over the legislation grew increasingly contentious before the break and it was delayed for lack of support.
Talks have improved somewhat since then.
Anthony Albanese told the Labor Caucus on Monday (10 August) that he has spoken with Angus Taylor about reaching agreement on the reforms.
“I met earlier today with the Leader of the Opposition as well, to work through NDIS,” the Prime Minister said.
“I expect those changes will pass in this sitting fortnight, which will be important to make sure that it’s sustainable going forward.”
The government hopes the Coalition will help it to pass major changes to the NDIS, to reduce the scheme’s cost by more than $30 billion over four years.
Labor has put forward plans for sweeping changes to the scheme that narrow eligibility and accessibility, but also toughen regulation on providers to crack down on rorts and harm to participants.
A Senate inquiry into the draft legislation is also due to report back this week.
Mr Butler said he has had some constructive discussions with the Opposition over the planned reforms in the past few weeks and he remains hopeful that the standoff can be resolved before this sitting fortnight ends.
“We’re watching the Senate inquiry that’s still due to report later this week very closely, obviously, watching all of the evidence, and that includes the submissions made by the Human Rights Commission,” he said on Monday.
“At the moment, we are still convinced this is the right legislation to pass the parliament as soon as possible.
“I’d like to see it passed this fortnight because it is critical we start the work of getting the NDIS back on track.
“A lot of the reforms that I announced some months ago and are incorporated into this bill take effect over a period of time.
“We’ve had very constructive discussions, particularly with the Coalition. I’ll talk with them over the course of this week again, but I’ve been talking with Melissa McIntosh, really, since I made the announcement.
“She’s the shadow minister for the NDIS, obviously. And Angus Taylor has been very encouraging in his support, his recognition of the need to get the NDIS back on track and clarify some of those things that we’ve been talking about.
“Obviously, we’ve got further discussions to have over the course of this parliamentary sitting fortnight, but I take them at their word that they see this as something we can work together on.”
Before the break, Ms McIntosh had pushed for a three-day inquiry into the planned changes, but the Greens secured an eight-week extension and expressed their intention to vote the bill down.
Ms McIntosh has signalled a willingness to work with the government on amendments.
“This is a big reform to the NDIS. There’s no question that the expenditure is way out of control – $50 billion a year,” she said.
“But we need to get it right. The government needs to get it right.”
Original Article published by Chris Johnson on Region Canberra.
