Tasmania bulk billing doctors becoming harder to find

Only a fraction of Tasmanian GP clinics taking on new patients bulk bill them compared to the mainland, as it’s revealed bulk billing in one Apple Isle region has “ceased to exist”.

Only 6.9 per cent of Tasmanian GP clinics taking on new patients bulk bill them compared to the national average of 35.1 per cent, a new report reveals.

Cleanbill, a free online healthcare directory, says in its Health of the Nation Report and Electorate Breakdown being released on Sunday that in the electorate of Franklin bulk billing has “ceased to exist”.

Cleanbill founder James Gillespie said only one of Tasmania’s five electorates, Lyons, has a bulk billing rate above 10 per cent.

He said Tasmania also had the second highest out-of-pocket costs of $47.44 behind the ACT with $49.11.

“Unfortunately, for some Tasmanians, we’re now at a point where finding an available bulk billing doctor in your area is simply no longer possible,” Mr Gillespie said.

“The entire electorate of Franklin, for example, no longer has any bulk billing doctors who are taking on new patients.

“The 80,000 Tasmanians living in Franklin will now need to look elsewhere if they’re trying to find a new bulk billing GP.

“There are, however, still low-cost GP clinics available in most areas and some areas still do have available bulk billing GPs. It’s just a matter of finding them.”

James Gillespie founder of Cleanbill.

In its latest updated survey, Cleanbill has collected data from 6363 GP clinics across the country, including 127 in Tasmania where it found of the 102 taking on new patients only seven bulk-billed all their patients.

Mr Gillespie said the out-of-pocket cost for a standard 15-minute consultation in Tasmania of $47.44 was “significantly” higher than the national average of $40.42.

“Our figures capture the bulk billing rate and out-of-pocket cost for an adult with a Medicare card, booking in for a standard consultation during regular business hours. Most clinics will either bulk bill or discount their rates for children and people holding certain pension and concession cards.

South Australia had the lowest out-of-pocket expenses of $35.89 while in Victoria it was $40.10 and New South Wales $41.06.

Mr Gillespie said cost was becoming a barrier to people seeking health care.

“People’s health complaints don’t just go away and for many this means heading to the one place they always know they can get affordable care; the public hospital emergency room,” he said.

Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the health department would continue to publish data on GP visits and bulk billing.

“Nine years of cuts and neglect to Medicare means it’s never been harder to see a doctor,” he said.

“In the year to June 2022, fewer than two-thirds of Australians had all of their visits to the GP bulk billed.

“I will continue to engage with all health care stakeholders, including consumer groups, unions and doctor groups to ensure we make it easier for Australians to see a bulk billed doctor and deliver our reforms to strengthen Medicare.”