Health Minister Mark Butler, Cleanbill dispute bulk billing stats as Greens float new $54bn plan

The government says bulk billing is on the rise but that’s not what a new survey from independent agency Cleanbill says.

Political uproar over bulk billing rates continues after independent agency Cleanbill’s survey of almost 7000 clinics found it in free fall, plunging to 7.4 per cent in South Australia and 20 per cent nationally.

But the federal government hotly disputes the findings with federal Health Minister Mark Butler saying rates are in fact rising.

Cleanbill and the Health Department use different criteria to measure if a clinic bulk bills — Cleanbill uses a standard non-concession adult weekday consultation, while the department uses the proportion of all GP visits including by children and pensioners.

Its figures show nationally the rate was 77.2 per cent in November 2024, up 1.6 per cent in a year, and 74.6 per cent for SA, up 3.9 per cent.

Health and Aged Care Minister Mark Butler. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“Official data shows our record investment to strengthen Medicare has stopped the free fall in bulk billing created under the Liberal and Nationals government,” Mr Butler said.

“After we tripled the bulk billing incentive for GPs, bulk billing has started rising again in every state and territory – delivering an additional 5.8 million free visits to the GP in just 13 months.

“Every state and territory now has more bulk billing. We know there’s more to do to keep strengthening Medicare after a decade of cuts and neglect from the Liberals, and we are committed to doing it.”

Australian Medical Association SA president Dr John Williams.

Other government initiatives include opening 87 Medicare Urgent Care Clinics for bulk billed care, making many medicines cheaper, introducing 60-day prescriptions and lowering the safety net threshold.

Australian Medical Association SA president Dr John Williams and Royal Australian College of GPs president Dr Michael Wright welcomed the moves but both called for “significant more investment” in Medicare.

Meanwhile a Greens “GP for Free” plan estimates tripling bulk billing incentives and opening 1000 bulk billing health clinics including for dental services and psychologists would save South Australian adults an average of $3733 and a family of four including two children under 16 an average $14,913 over a decade.

An independent analysis by the Parliamentary Budget Office of the plan shows it would cost $54bn over a decade — the Greens say this could be paid for by a proposed excess profits tax on corporations raising $514b over the decade.

Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Picture: NewsWire / Martin Ollman

Greens SA Senator Sarah Hanson-Young said: “You shouldn’t need a credit card to see the doctor when you’re sick, but the independent evidence shows it’s almost impossible to find a bulk billing GP in SA, and if you can, you are slugged with skyrocketing out-of-pocket charges.

“In the cost of living crisis, too many South Australians are putting off seeing the doctor because they can’t afford it. In a country as wealthy as ours, healthcare should be free.”

Opposition health spokeswoman Senator Anne Ruston said a Coalition government “will grow our GP workforce, because a strong pipeline of homegrown doctors is critical to increasing the number of bulk billing GPs.”

Originally published as Health Minister Mark Butler, Cleanbill dispute bulk billing stats as Greens float new $54bn plan