World

Nearly two-thirds of Australians now bulk-billed for all GP care

A college survey found the share of doctors billing every patient through Medicare more than doubled in a year, after the government added financial incentives.

By the NationsDesk desk

· 2 days ago

Nearly two-thirds of Australians now bulk-billed for all GP care
Photograph: Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

What to know

  • Some 63% of Australians are bulk-billed for all GP care, up from 56% in 2024 and 2025.
  • The report attributes the rise to federal investment in Medicare bulk-billing incentives.
  • Experts cautioned that quality of care and health outcomes also matter.

Almost two-thirds of Australians are now bulk-billed for all of their GP care, according to a report from the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, which also found that the share of doctors billing every patient through Medicare more than doubled over a year. The figure rose to 63% from 56% in both 2024 and 2025.

The report links the increase to federal spending on bulk-billing incentives introduced by the government. Experts quoted in the coverage cautioned that billing rates alone do not establish the standard of care or patient outcomes. The report does not set out how the survey was sampled or how the incentive payments were assessed.

Reporting credit

Written by the NationsDesk desk. The underlying reporting is by The Guardian.

Australia Medicare General Practice Health Policy

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