NEW REPORT REVEALS ALARMING BULK BILLING RATES ACROSS REGIONAL AUSTRALIA

An alarming new report by online healthcare directory Cleanbill has shed light on the worrying reality of low and declining bulk billing rates across regional Australia.

 Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack, in response, is calling for the Albanese Labor Government to remove its blinkers and start working on improving access to health services in regional Australia.

 “What we see in Cleanbill’s 2024 Blue Report – Electorate Breakdown is a reality completely at odds with what Health Minister Mark Butler and the Labor Government have been trying to peddle,” Mr McCormack said.

 “Alarmingly, Cleanbill’s report found nearly 87 per cent of electorates saw a decline in bulk billing at general practitioner clinics over the course of 2023; all whilst Labor has been pretending nothing is wrong.

 “For an adult without a concession card, Cleanbill found only 25 per cent of GP clinics in the Riverina and Central West bulk billed standard consultations during 2023-24, down from 28.2 per cent of clinics in 2022-23.

 “In addition to a decline in bulk billing, the Riverina and Central West has also seen an increase in the average out-of-pocket consultation cost rise from $39.43 to $41.78.

 “While the Riverina and Central West has been facing a decline in accessibility to affordable health services we have had Health Minister Mark Butler pretend there’s no problem, making the absurd suggestion that you should just ‘ring around’ to find a bulk billing doctor — totally ignoring the fact many of us in the regions have to travel significant distances to see a doctor and have to wait weeks to get in.

 “Take for instance Parkes and Forbes, which according to Cleanbill, have no GP clinics which offer bulk billing to adults without concession cards.

 “Minister Butler’s advice just goes to show how out of touch he is on issues in regional Australia.

 “It is time the Government took its blinkers off and started working for regional Australia.”