Australians continue to be let down by the Federal government when it comes to seeing the GP.   :(
2025-01-13
greens.org.au
Today, Cleanbill released its Blue Report measuring the availability of bulk billing GPs across the country.

The report demonstrates that:

Almost 80% of available Australian GP clinics no longer offer bulk billing to adults.
The average out-of-pocket cost to see a GP is $43.38 per visit.
The community and general practitioners are at breaking point. The lack of action on bulk billing is harming our community and is putting pressure on an already strained health system.

The Greens have a bold plan that will improve the health of our community, and bring down the cost of living. Including:

Triple the bulk-billing incentive for all: The Greens will ensure everyone, and not just specific cohorts, can access a bulk-billed GP appointment in private practice by tripling the bulk-billing incentive for everyone with a Medicare card.
Free Local Healthcare Clinics in WA: The Greens will establish at least 96 new Free Local Healthcare Clinics across Western Australia with government-employed healthcare professionals providing free services.
Quotes attributed to Senator Jordon Steele-John, Greens Spokesperson for Health

“With rising out-of-pocket costs and shrinking bulk billing availability, something has got to give.

“It’s disgraceful that we’re in a cost of living crisis where people are choosing between going to the doctor, paying rent and putting food on the table.

“The Greens have a bold plan that will improve the health of our community, and bring down the cost of living. We’re committed to getting back to going to the GP for Free, including increasing the bulk-billing incentive and establishing 1000 Free Local Healthcare centres across Australia.

“These new clinics will be staffed with General Practitioners, Dentists, Psychologists and Nurse Practitioners so Australians can get the healthcare they need when they need it.”

We want the doctor the does the bulk-billing.   :(

What about you Mr Dutton, will you support Medicare and bulk-billing?.  Will the coalition try again to bring in a GP Co-payment, like last time?.   :(

whiteknight wrote on Jan 15^th, 2025 at 5:44pm:

What about you Mr Dutton, will you support Medicare and bulk-billing?.  Will the coalition try again to bring in a GP Co-payment, like last time?.   :(

Albanese has dropped the ball on health care.

I'm certainly no fan of his.

However, Dutton will be ten times worse - he will all but eliminate Medicare.

whiteknight wrote on Jan 15^th, 2025 at 5:39pm:

We want the doctor the does the bulk-billing.   :(

Bulk billing should be means tested, like many other services.

https://i.imgur.com/rbFWZ4G.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/xom2CBi.jpg

greggerypeccary wrote on Jan 15^th, 2025 at 7:12pm:

whiteknight wrote on Jan 15th, 2025 at 5:44pm: What about you Mr Dutton, will you support Medicare and bulk-billing?.  Will the coalition try again to bring in a GP Co-payment, like last time?.   :( Albanese has dropped the ball on health care. I'm certainly no fan of his. However, Dutton will be ten times worse - he will all but eliminate Medicare.

Well said.

What will Duddo and his government do to save bulk billing and free universal health care that labor has failed to do?

Please Duddo, speak up!

The previous Coalition Government:

increased Medicare funding every year;
increased hospital funding by 86%;
delivered record bulk billing rates;
made 2,900 new or amended medicines listings;
doubled the number of Medicare subsidised mental health sessions;


The facts on Medicare

Medicare bulk billing was higher under the Liberals.

Across the Coalition’s time in Government, the average bulk billing rate was 86.15%. Under Labor it is 78.75%

The GP bulk billing rate was 88.3 percent in the Coalition’s final year. Under Labor it has fallen to 77.3 percent (an 11 percent decline).

In the Coalition’s last year, 167.2 million free GP services were delivered. This is 61 million more than the previous Labor Government.

Under Labor, 41 million fewer free GP services are bulk-billed under Medicare.

Under the Coalition, funding into Medicare increased year-on-year from $18.6 billion under Labor in 2012–13 to more than $30 billion in 2021-22.

The facts on hospital funding

The Coalition nearly doubled hospital funding, from $13.3 billion (in 2012-13) to $24.7 billion (in 2021-22).

This represents a hospital funding increase of 86% increase in 9 years.

When Peter Dutton was Health Minister, funding increased by 16% in two years.

The facts on mental health

The Coalition Government doubled the number of Medicare subsidised mental health sessions Australians can access, from 10 to 20.

Labor has cut Medicare-subsidised mental health support in half, back to 10 sessions. This leaves 240,000 Australians without the support they need.

The Coalition will restore 20 Medicare subsidised sessions permanently.

As Health Minister in 2013, Peter Dutton expanded youth mental health service, Headspace, to establish 10 new centres.

Captain Nemo wrote on Jan 15^th, 2025 at 10:38pm:

The previous Coalition Government: increased Medicare funding every year; increased hospital funding by 86%; delivered record bulk billing rates; made 2,900 new or amended medicines listings; doubled the number of Medicare subsidised mental health sessions; The facts on Medicare Medicare bulk billing was higher under the Liberals. Across the Coalition’s time in Government, the average bulk billing rate was 86.15%. Under Labor it is 78.75% The GP bulk billing rate was 88.3 percent in the Coalition’s final year. Under Labor it has fallen to 77.3 percent (an 11 percent decline). In the Coalition’s last year, 167.2 million free GP services were delivered. This is 61 million more than the previous Labor Government. Under Labor, 41 million fewer free GP services are bulk-billed under Medicare. Under the Coalition, funding into Medicare increased year-on-year from $18.6 billion under Labor in 2012–13 to more than $30 billion in 2021-22. The facts on hospital funding The Coalition nearly doubled hospital funding, from $13.3 billion (in 2012-13) to $24.7 billion (in 2021-22). This represents a hospital funding increase of 86% increase in 9 years. When Peter Dutton was Health Minister, funding increased by 16% in two years. The facts on mental health The Coalition Government doubled the number of Medicare subsidised mental health sessions Australians can access, from 10 to 20. Labor has cut Medicare-subsidised mental health support in half, back to 10 sessions. This leaves 240,000 Australians without the support they need. The Coalition will restore 20 Medicare subsidised sessions permanently. As Health Minister in 2013, Peter Dutton expanded youth mental health service, Headspace, to establish 10 new centres.

This is what I want to know!!!
Thank you.

Mental health services In NSW are about to fall over a cliff under the labor  state government .

They can find 40% pay rises too pay for their own security ( police) but doctors and nurses get nothing like that offered.