Bulk billing on the rise

Figures for the September quarter 2006 show general practitioner (GP) bulk-billing has increased to 76.9%, a rise for the 11th consecutive quarter.

The rate of GP bulk-billing for people aged over 65 years rose to a 10 year high, with bulk-billing rates of 87.1%.

Minor variations occurred in rates of bulk-billing from state to state in the September quarter compared to the June quarter 2006, ranging from an increase of 3.1 percentage points in the ACT to a fall of 0.7 of a percentage point in the Northern Territory.

The GP bulk-billing rate has increased 10.4 percentage points since the Commonwealth Government introduced its $4 billion Strengthening Medicare reforms in 2004. The most significant increases have occurred where the Government has targeted incentives, children and older Australians.

For further information visit www.medicareaustralia.gov.au or http://www.health.gov.au/internet/wcms/publishing.nsf/Content/medicare+statistics-1