We are calling for more reform and investment to improve affordable access to GPs for patients facing cost-of-living pressures.
GPs are facing rising costs pressures to keep their practices going, pay staff, cover rapidly rising rent and insurance, and deliver first-class care to their patients, AMA President Dr Danielle McMullen said on the release of a new bulk billing report.
"We for many years saw a Medicare freeze, and so that rebate the patients get back for general practice care really has not kept pace with the cost of providing that medical care," she told ABC Radio.
"And that's why we see out-of-pocket costs," she said.
Dr McMullen was asked about the release of the Cleanbill report , which claims that the national bulk billing rate fell by 15 percentage points in the past two years with out-of-pocket costs increasing by 7 per cent since 2023.
However, Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler, disputed Cleanbill's report, saying official data showed the tripling of GP bulk billing incentives had resulted in 77.2 per cent of all GP visits being bulk billed in November 2024 - an increase of 1.6 percentage points from October 2023.
Dr McMullen also told media the report did not provide a full picture if bulk billing rates in Australia, saying it measured only how many practices fully bulk bill every single patient that comes through the doctor's door for every single service.
"The federal government made a significant downpayment of around $6 billion for primary care in the 2023 budget, which has slowed the decline of bulk billing rates," she said.
"We welcomed this investment and we continue to advocate for further reform and investment to ensure the system continues to support improved access and affordability for patients.
Dr McMullen said GPs faced rising costs, including wages, insurance, rents, utilities, and have had to pass some of these costs on to patients.
The AMA continues to call on the government to provide more support for patients to access affordable care, including more funding to encourage longer consultations and investment in the workforce.
