In the month before the bulk billing incentive was tripled on 1 November 2023, 67.3% of all GP visits were bulk billed in Bendigo. Over the next seven months the bulk billing rate increased by 9.7% percentage points to 77.0% in May.

Bendigo residents have also saved $2,226,138 on the cost of their medicines, thanks to the Albanese Government’s cheaper medicines policies, including our landmark 60-day prescriptions reforms and the largest cut to the maximum patient copayment in the 75-year history of the PBS.

This week, the Albanese Government also delivered the second largest increase to Medicare rebates in 30 years, with $900 million in additional Medicare funding. This comes on top of the $940 million delivered last year, in the largest increase in 30 years.

This means that in just two years, the Albanese Government has increased Medicare rebates by twice as much as the former government did in their nine years in office.

Seven months of official Medicare billing data shows that after a decade of cuts and neglect from the Liberals, the slide in the GP bulk billing rate has stopped and bulk billing rates continue to improve each month.

Nationally, there has been over two million additional bulk billed visits across the country since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect on 1 November.

Australians living in regional and rural areas have seen the biggest increases, with an estimated additional 900,000 bulk billed visits since the higher bulk billing incentives came into effect.

Thanks to the Federal Labor Government, Bendigo residents are having an easier time accessing a bulk billing GP.


QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO FEDERAL MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS MP: 

“More and more locals are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor because of Labor’s efforts to strengthen Medicare – and this is also what the data tells us

“This is delivering significant cost of living relief for people in Bendigo.

“Labor introduced Medicare and only Labor can be trusted to strengthen and protect it.”