The changes to Medicare and general practice over the course of the year have sent the strongest signal ever that the public should not expect to be bulk-billed by their GP, particularly if they do not have a healthcare or pension card.

Why would a doctor bulk-bill a patient without a concession card and earn considerably less than they would for bulk-billing a patient with a card?

Especially when the rebate including the bulk-billing incentive in a MMM1 area is still insufficient to provide an adequate income to the GP or practice owner.

It is time for our learned politicians to publicly state that fact rather than talk about “boosting bulk-billing”.