State health minister calls for reversal of bulk-billing incentive cuts
'Successive years of freezes' are putting pressure on practices, says Jenny Mikakos
A state health minister has weighed in on the debate over looming cuts to bulk-billing incentives for thousands of GPs, calling on the Federal Government to reverse the proposed changes.
From January, GPs working in outer suburbs and regional towns will take a financial hit when their practices are reclassified as metropolitan.
Under the update to the Department of Health’s rural classification system, 2000 GPs will gain access to the $9.65 rural bulk-billing incentive for the first time.
However, around 7000 GPs in the outskirts of capital cities and regional towns will see their incentives reduced from $9.65 to $6.40.
