Friction over universal bulk-billing likely to erupt between GPs and practice owners, says lobby group
Mark Butler announced on Friday that the 12.5% loading payment would be equally split.
Practice owners will be under pressure to get GPs to universally bulk-bill patients, it is being claimed following details of the Federal Government’s new Medicare loadings.
Last week, health minister Mark Butler announced that the 12.5% loading on Medicare rebates in return for every GP in a practice bulk-billing all patients would be equally split between the GPs and the owners.
He said the decision followed “close consultation”.
But Dr John Deery, chair of the GP practice owners’ group, the Australian GP Alliance, is warning the policy being introduced on 1 November will fuel tension.
