Posted by Michael Wonder on 20 Aug 2017
Free visits to the doctor reach a record high, new Medicare statistics show
20 August 2017 - The number of Australian patients are seeing their doctor without paying a cent for it after GP bulk billing rates reached their highest levels on record.
New Medicare statistics show in the 2016-17 financial year GP bulk billing numbers rose by 0.6% to 85.7% — the highest since Medicare began more than 30 years ago.
The rise in bulk billing numbers — where the doctor bills Medicare for a medical service directly — typically occurs at this time of year due to the flu season in the winter months.
