Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a general practice clinic in Tasmania on Wednesday as new figures showed the national bulk-billing rate has risen to 81.4 per cent in the three months to January.
Data from the Department of Health indicates the rate increased from 77.1 per cent over the same period a year earlier. The rise follows the expansion of Medicare bulk-billing incentives to all patients from November 2025.
During the visit, Albanese met Dr Prashanth Reddy, who runs two clinics in Beaconsfield and Newstead and now bulk-bills every patient. According to the Prime Minister’s account of their conversation, Dr Reddy told him: “Health care is not a luxury, it’s the right of every individual in Australia.”
Albanese said that since the incentives took effect, Dr Reddy has provided free consultations to all patients at his practices. “That’s what our record investment in Medicare means for people across Australia,” the Prime Minister wrote. “More bulk billing. More Australians seeing a doctor without worrying about the cost.”
The policy stems from the government’s $8.5 billion commitment in the 2025 budget to triple bulk-billing incentives and introduce a 12.5 per cent loading for clinics that bulk-bill every patient.
Health Minister Mark Butler said told the ABC early figures reflect progress. “We promised Australians more bulk-billing and that is what we have delivered,” Butler said last week.
Parliamentary records show the number of fully bulk-billing practices has increased to nearly 3,400, up by 1,300 since November 2025. The government has set a target of reaching 90 per cent bulk-billing by 2030.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation had earlier welcomed the additional funding, which supports around 18 million GP visits each year.
Some health policy experts have urged caution. Peter Breadon, health program director at the Grattan Institute, told The Guardian the increase was expected given the funding boost but raised concerns about the broader structure of general practice funding. “This doesn’t really deal with the supply and distribution of care,” Breadon said. “We need a different way of funding general practice that targets GP deserts and better supports clinics dealing with more disadvantaged and low-income patients.”
Some general practitioners remain hesitant to move entirely to bulk-billing, citing administrative complexity and reliance on government settings. Michael Wright, chair of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, said, “For these GPs, this decision is fundamentally a trust issue, not just a financial one.”
The incentives add about $2 billion a year to taxpayer costs, prompting debate over their long-term sustainability and whether funding is directed where it is most needed. As clinics continue to adjust to the changes, further data is expected to clarify their impact on access to care and practice viability.
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