Rate of bulk-billed clinics in Cairns, Far North Queensland revealed

Shocking new data reveals just how hard it is to find a fully bulk-billed GP clinic in Cairns. A local doctor reveals why.

As few as five per cent of Cairns doctor clinics are completely bulk-billed, new data has revealed.

Figures released by online healthcare directory Cleanbill show about 31 per cent of all medical clinics in the Leichhardt boundary are fully bulk-billed.

But when state-funded clinics in remote Far North communities are taken out of the equation, the bulk billing rate drops to a staggering 4.8 per cent of services.

That compares to almost a quarter of all GPs being completely bulk-billed in the Kennedy electorate, which covers the Tablelands and Cassowary Coast as well as a huge swathe of outback Queensland.

Nationally, just 22 per cent of GP clinics are fully bulk-billed – a drop of about 10 per cent on last year’s figures.

GP and skin cancer specialist Dr Lee Jones, who works across Smithfield and Yorkeys Knob clinics. Photo: Isaac McCarthy

Yorkeys Medical GP and Australian Medical Association member Dr Lee Jones said the issue, which had been playing out across the country, stemmed from Medicare rebates not keeping pace with inflation.

He said the AMA had been advocating the federal government to more than double the standard rebate to sit around $104. Currently, it sits at $41.20 for a standard consultation.

“There have been businesses faltering around Australia because GPs have said ‘we don’t really want to charge our patients more’,” he said.

“We know people are struggling, because we get to know our patients.

“It’s not about doctors wanting to charge (patients), it’s about the government, sequential governments, not holding their part of the deal.”

In 2022 James Cook University welcomed 20 new Commonwealth supported places to train doctors locally, but missed out in the latest round. Picture: Emily Barker

Dr Jones said the situation was turning young people away from the profession, which only presented more challenges for Cairns after the region missed out on the latest round of commonwealth-supported medical places.

“People are getting used to six-minute medicine (consults) as well,” Dr Jones said.

“Society is asking the question, ‘do you want your doctor to listen, be there, spend the time with you?’

“To maintain the same wage over time, if inflation keeps going up, doctors have to go faster because the rebate isn’t rising.

“Your GP is there for a whole gamut of things and it should be the first line”.

Cleanbill data shows the average out-of-pocket cost of a standard doctor’s consultation in the Leichhardt electorate has risen to $43.67 and $42.22 in Kennedy, which are both above the national average.

Originally published as Rate of bulk-billed clinics in Cairns, Far North Queensland revealed