Journalists treating Medicare modelling like Watergate revelation, Mark Butler says
Advice that not all GP practices will universally bulk-bill after November has prompted 'bizarre reporting', Mark Butler says.
The Minister for Health and Ageing has slammed “bizarre reporting” of government modelling that suggests 23% of GP practices will not switch to universal bulk-billing after November.
Mark Butler’s first parliamentary sitting day of the second Albanese Government has been derailed by coverage of the universal bulk-billing incentives that will start on 1 November.
Last month, the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing’s new government briefing warned Mr Butler that a quarter of GP practices would be worse off switching to mass bulk-billing even with tripled Medicare incentives and 12.5% rebate loading for universally bulk-billing practices.
On Tuesday, The Australian called it “damning modelling” for the government.
