The long-promised cut to the Medicare rebate for hundreds of thousands of urgent after-hours home visits by non-VR doctors has finally taken effect.

Two years ago, Minister for Health Greg Hunt slashed the fee for non-VR GPs working in the cities from $130 to $100, in an attempt to end the after-hours explosion in MBS costs.

The fee cut for call-outs on a Sunday, after 6pm on a weekday or outside 8am and midday on Saturday was introduced alongside restrictions on advertising and scope of practice for deputising doctors.

It followed the damning report by the MBS Review Taskforce, which claimed to have uncovered widespread overservicing in the sector.