Cleanbill report reveals Gilmore locals paying more than ever for doctors

New data has revealed Gilmore locals are paying more than ever for doctors, however the federal government has said the opposite, stating healthcare is cheaper than ever.

New “concerning” data has revealed residents in a south coast electorate are being billed more for their medical appointments than any other electorate in the country.

The recent report by Cleanbill – an organisation which finds cheapest healthcare options – found residents in the Labor held Gilmore electorate running from Kiama in the north to Moruya in the south, were paying larger amounts for GP appointments than any other region.

The report found 21.3 per cent of adults in the electorate of 150,000 people did not have a concession card, also revealing this figure was up 10.9 per cent from last year.

This means these residents are charged upon the conclusion of their appointment, with Medicare only covering a percentage of the cost.

Gilmore was the only electorate in Australia which experienced a rise in non concession card owners, with 87 per cent of other electorates seeing this figure fall during the same time period.

The data comes at a time where south coast residents say medical costs should be dropping, not rising in regional areas given the cost of living crisis.

Anna McClair spoke to The South Coast News when visiting her GP in Batemans Bay, saying the data “concerned” her.

The recently opened Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic is bulk billed.

“It’s frustrating because I remember years ago, a doctors appointment wouldn’t cost you anything,” she said.

“Now, it’s a hit to the pocket and even though Medicare does cover a small amount, we’re still paying $70, $80 just for a regular check up”.

Local David Fraser – who was also visiting the same GP – agreed with this sentiment, saying medical appointments should be free.

“How can we say as a country that we have universal free healthcare when we are now being charged to go to the doctors?” he said.

The Federal Government has refuted the information, saying the specific nature of the data did not present an accurate picture of south coast health services.

Federal member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips.

Federal member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips, said recently released Medicare figures told a different story, saying south coast residents were, in reality, “seeing the benefits of the government’s record investments”.

Mrs Phillips said Gilmore had seen a 4.3 per cent increase in the rate of bulk billing in the first two months since the Government tripled the GP bulk billing incentive.

“This data shows that local people on the south coast are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor because of Labor’s efforts to strengthen Medicare,” she said.

Mrs Phillips also noted the new Batemans Bay Urgent Care Clinic had saved residents money, as the recently opened facility running out of the Batemans Bay Hospital is a free, bulk billed service for residents needing care that isn’t a hospital level emergency.

“I am absolutely delighted to see real change to this, with local doctors and local patients telling me the positive different our increased bulk billing rates are making them,” she said.

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