Push to reverse ‘cack-handed’ cut to suburban bulk-billing incentives
Labor is demanding the Government reverse its changes which resulted in 7000 doctors losing access to rural bulk-billing incentives
The Federal Government’s rural bulk-billing reforms have been “cack-handed” and are already hitting GP recruitment in the outer suburbs, Labor’s health spokesman says.
In January, the map used to determine which GPs are eligible for the $9.65 rural bulk-billing incentives was redrawn.
The move, which resulted in some 2000 GPs given access to the higher incentives for the first time, was sold as necessary to ensure doctors stayed rural.
But although it was backed by the AMA and the RDAA, anger has been brewing among the 7000 GPs who suddenly lost their rural status and with it, thousands of dollars.
