A new survey’s found just six medical centres still bulk-bill in the Ballarat electorate.
The average out of pocket cost for locals is just over 44-dollars.
Additionally, the survey findings from online healthcare directory Cleanbill found there’s not one federal electorate where all clinics bulk-bill.
It’s the latest indicator of the crumbling state of affordable primary healthcare in Australia, with experts concerned people will put off seeing a doctor due to the financial strain.
Cleanbill asked 6363 GP clinics nationwide about their billing practices to find only 35.1 per cent of Australian practices still offered fully subsidised visits to a regular adult.
Three reasons have been highlighted as being behind the decline in bulk-billing: the government froze the rebate amount for almost a decade; the costs of running a clinic have increased; and fewer graduates choosing general practice as a career.
Cleanbill’s founder James Gillespie will send the survey report to every state and federal MP ahead of a national cabinet meeting this month where health reform will again be on the agenda.
