‘We’re back to 2010 rebates’: GPs react to incentive cuts
Many doctors in outer metro areas say the change will impact the viability of their practices
Some GPs say they will lose more than $20,000 in Medicare revenue a year under looming cuts to rural bulk-billing incentives.
The Department of Health is planning to retire the decades-old map it uses to determine which GPs can access rural incentives and replace it with a new classification system.
As a result, from January, some 2000 GPs will gain access to the $9.65 rural bulk-billing incentive for the first time.
But around 7000 GPs in places like Townsville, Newcastle and the outskirts of capital cities will see their incentives reduced from $9.65 to $6.40.
