Cleanbill's Health of the Nation report shows that the average rate of bulk billing in the Bendigo electorate is only 11.8% and that the average out of pocket expense for attending a GP appointment is 750 million to deliver the highest priority investments in primary care in line with the recommendations of the Strengthening Medicare Taskforce and will bring forward its plan through this year's May Budget.
Quotes Attributable to Federal Member for Bendigo Lisa Chesters:
"The former Government froze the Medicare rebate for six years, ripping billions of dollars out of primary care and causing gap fees to skyrocket.
"The release of this report on bulk billing rates confirmed what locally we already know to be true. Very few local GP clinics are bulk-billing, and the majority have moved to a private billing model with high gap fees.
"Lack of access to bulk billing GP services is a huge issue. Some people who can't find bulk billing services just don't go to the doctor.
"Now the work begins to strengthen Medicare and fix the services that people need and rely on."
