Practices vs GPs: How will Mark Butler split his bulk billing ‘spoils’?
Documents show the 12.5% loading payment for universal bulk-billing practices is a critical factor.
The Federal Government has always claimed its big election promise to raise GP bulk-billing rates to 90% is backed by incredibly detailed modelling.
The key delivery mechanism is expanding bulk-billing incentives to every patient and offering a 12.5% loading on most rebates to universally bulk-billing practices, which it claims means the average city GP who embraces universal bulk-billing will take home $404,000 a year after the practice’s cut.
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says it simulated how the measures would affect practice income for every GP clinic taking part in the Practice Incentives Program (PIP) to back the claims.
The problem is that it has refused to publish the complete modelling with its hard numbers.
