Why GPs in this practice group switched to universal bulk-billing: ‘The numbers were pretty compelling’
Wonthaggi Medical Group business manager Cameron Pepper says the GPs will re-evaluate if government policy changes.
The multi-million-dollar question with the government push to resurrect universal bulk-billing was whether the GPs who jumped on board would actually benefit financially.
To put it bluntly: would it be a return to short consults, quick throughputs and limited dollars from the Medicare bucket?
Figures published recently by Services Australia offered some insight, revealing that the average payment to a GP via the new bulk-billing practice incentive program — a 12.5% loading split 50-50 between practices and GPs — was $5000.
But that is only part of the picture.
