The 1st of November is here. Why we will not be becoming a bulk billing practice.

The 1st of November has arrived, and for many consumers, the perceived promise of bulk billed general practice. In the lead up to this year’s election, we regularly saw Prime Minister Albanese waving his Medicare card around the campaign trail. Prime Minister Albanese declared that he was increasing the bulk billing incentive, and that as a result, you would only need your Medicare card, not your credit card, to see a GP in our country.

These changes came into effect on 1st November, and yet today, patients visiting our practice have continued to pay a private fee. 

Here is why.

At Macquarie Health Collective, we are committed to providing the high quality care you have grown to expect from us. We believe we support you best, when we really know you and your family. We pride ourselves on the delivery of thorough consultations that help you to walk away feeling heard. 

We have never operated on a “6 minute medicine” model where we rapidly cycle through appointments, rushing people through the door, and compromise on the level of care we provide. The “churn and burn” model is not what you deserve.

To remain financially viable, patients of our practice will continue to incur out of pocket expenses. This allows us to cover the real-world costs most small businesses face, such as rent, electricity, insurance, and staff wages.

We do not do this to be greedy. We do this because the Medicare rebate has not kept pace with the cost of living pressures we face. Even with the bulk billing incentive increased, the proposed rates still fall short of covering the costs of what is involved in keeping our doors open, and delivering the care you deserve.

To maintain our high standards and the level of individualised care you have grown to expect from our incredible team of doctors, we will not be switching to universal bulk billing, despite what the Government has promised in the media. 

We know the cost of living pressures people across our community are facing, and so we do not make this decision lightly. If you share our concern about the out of pocket costs of healthcare, we strongly encourage you to contact your local Federal Member of Parliament. There is power in small voices coming together.

Thank you for your understanding and for trusting our team to care for you and your family.

x Tanya