The bayside electorate of Macnamara,which includes St Kilda,has the most expensive gap fees in Melbourne.Credit:Visit Victoria
Gillespie said official health department data didn’t tell patients where GP services could be accessed and how available they were for new patients.
“By focusing on clinics,rather than services rendered,Cleanbill’s data complements the Commonwealth government’s and offers unique insights into the state of Australian primary care that aren’t necessarily captured in government reporting,” he said.
“Our listing of every GP clinic we could find across Australia represents the only comprehensive survey of GP availabilities and billing practices ever conducted ... The outcome is deeply concerning.”
Gillespie said his survey showed bulk-billing had seemingly ceased to exist in the federal electorates of Mayo in South Australia,Fairfax in Queensland,Newcastle in NSW and Franklin in Tasmania.
“In these circumstances,it’s easy to see why hundreds of thousands of Australians per year delay or forego care with a GP in their community because of concerns surrounding cost. These Australians almost inevitably end up in public hospitals. This should not be happening.”
Ananda-Rajah,a doctor of 26 years,said that “to fix a problem of this magnitude means you have to introduce multifaceted measures”.
She said Labor was revisiting the fee-for-service model,in which Medicare gives a rebate for each doctor’s visit,because it was not fit for purpose when patients had multiple comorbidities and required longer GP sessions.
Loading
“Other things are urgent care clinics around the country and the final thing is expanding the scope of practice of other healthcare workers,especially pharmacists to prescribe. I’m very on board with that.”
Butler said it had never been harder to see a doctor due to years of Medicare neglect,but that his government would be transparent with Australians about the state of the system.
“I will continue to engage with all healthcare stakeholders including consumer groups,unions and doctor groups,to ensure we make it easier for Australians to see a bulk billed doctor and deliver our reforms to strengthen Medicare,” he said.