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Letter from Josh Burns, MP of Macnamara when Sam^ asked about Bulk Billing issues. Responded in 3 days on 04/03/2024.


Dear Sam,

Thank you for taking the time to email me again regarding Medicare bulk billing.

It is saddening to hear so many stories of Australians being unable to see a bulk billing doctor or GPs changing from bulk billing to mixed billing. The reality is, after nine years of cuts and neglect from the former government, primary care is in the worst shape it has been in 40 years- as you know, bulk billing rates are in decline and only 14 per cent of medical graduates now choose to work in general practice, dropping from 50 per cent.

I want to assure you that this is a priority for the Health Minister and he is working on how to fix this right now. The Strengthening Medicare Taskforce developed by primary health care leaders and experts released its report in February which sets out a recommended pathway for significant reforms to strengthen Medicare and rebuild general practice.

Among other recommendations, patient centred and multidisciplinary care, better managing the health of an older population with more complex and chronic disease, modernisation of digital systems and the way patient's data is handled are all central to the recommendations of the report.

Our government's 2023-24 Budget provides a historic $6.1 billion investment in Medicare to lay the foundations for significant reforms.

Some of these improvements include:

-$3.5 billion over 5 years to address the decline in GP's bulk billing of patients on low incomes and children
-$143.9 million over 2 years to improve access to primary care after hours programs
-$98.9 million over 4 years to connect frequent hospital users to a general practice to receive comprehensive, multidisciplinary care for people with      chronic conditions in underserviced communities
-$1.3 billion over 5 years to reduce patient costs and improve access to medicines and related services delivered by community pharmacies.

You may have seen that we recently tripled the bulk billing incentive. The tripling of the bulk billing incentive will help over 7 million pensioners and concession card holders to see a bulk billed GP.

I strongly believe in a universal healthcare system that provides access to affordable and quality care for everyone. Labor is the party of Medicare, and we will always protect it.

While I agree that there is more to be done, I am proud of the progress we have made in strengthening Medicare. I look forward to ensuring that people in our community, no matter what their income, can access the health care they need, when and where they need it.

Thank you again for writing to me and for your advocacy on this important matter.

Take care,

Josh