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The Guardian - AU

National

Paul Karp Chief political correspondent

More than 5.4m extra doctor visits were bulk billed last year after incentives boost, health minister says

Peter Dutton Medicare Mark Butler Richard Marles GPS

Hand holding a Medicare card — Bulk-billing rates were highest in New South Wales (81.9%, up 1.3 points since October 2023) and Victoria (78.2%, up 1.4 points). Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

More than 5.4m additional visits to the doctor were bulk billed in the past year due to a boost to incentives, according to figures released by the health minister, Mark Butler.

The proportion of all doctors’ visits that are bulk billed has increased by 1.7 points from 75.6% in October last year to 77.3% this October, the data shows.

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