‘Number of bulk-billing services to increase’: Toowoomba doctor

Bulk-billing Medicare services will become more accessible to regional Queensland residents, thanks to tireless advocacy efforts from a Toowoomba doctor. But you’ll have to wait for them.

A Toowoomba doctor’s advocacy efforts have come to fruition this week.

Rural Doctors Association president Dr John Hall welcomed a Federal Government announcement that it will significantly increase Medicare bulk-billing rebates for health services delivered in heartland rural and remote communities across Australia.

“For the first time in Medicare we are seeing the government recognise that there are on-the-ground differences between delivering general practice care in regional, rural and remote areas, compared to larger regional and metropolitan cities,” he said.

“The additional cost and complexity for doctors and medical practices to deliver health services increases with rurality, and this differential scale of Medicare rebates will better support them to provide the essential care these communities need and deserve.”

Dr John Hall.

From January next year, bulk-billed Medicare items in regional Queensland will be increased by 10 to 40 per cent of the current bulk-billing incentive rate.

This service will deliver more affordable and sustainable healthcare to the regions impacted.

Federal Regional Health Minister Mark Coulton said the Government was delivering the incentives in recognition of the ongoing need to provide the right services for the heath workforce in rural, regional and remote areas.

“Australians in rural and remote areas have poorer access to and use of health services, compared to people living in metropolitan areas,” he said.

“The new Rural Bulk Billing Incentive will support those GPs providing services to people in greatest need and who have the lowest propensity to pay for healthcare; our government understands GPs outside of our metropolitan areas face greater cost and workforce pressures.”

Dr Hall said it was a positive move in securing quality healthcare for regions that had been struggling to attract doctors for many years.