how gp for free would actually work

EXPLAINED

• In the midst of a cost of living crisis when so many people are experiencing financial hardship the out of pocket cost to visit the GP are higher than ever before, with the national average at $42. 
• AND we have the least GP clinics bulk billing nationally, since the conception of Medicare 40 years ago. 
• The rate of GPs bulk billing all patients in Australia has dropped below 1 in 4.

Source: Cleanbill Blue Report, January 2024 

OUR GREENS PLAN

• Increase access to GP bulk billing appointments by tripling the bulk billing incentive for everyone with a Medicare card. 

• At the moment GP clinics are only incentivised to bulk bill people with a healthcare concession card. 

• Tripling the bulk billing incentive for everyone will mean it is a lot more likely that your GP clinic will be able to offer you a bulk-billed appointment. 

EXPLAINED

• Because of the way the government incentivises their time, currently GP clinics earn more profit by booking back to back short appointments, than they do by filling that same time with longer appointments.
• Most clinics encourage doctors to prioritise shorter appointments as a result. This combined with the demands of moving through a high volume of patients quickly can mean that many GP’s don’t feel empowered by the clinics they work for, to spend additional time with a patient when their issue requires it. 
• If you’ve had a less than awesome experience with a GP, this dynamic may have been a contributing factor. 

OUR GREENS PLAN

• Support doctors to spend more time with patients by increasing the Medicare patient rebates by 20% for longer appointments. 
• This will mean when you do secure an appointment, you’ll have more time to explain your issue and your doctor will have more time to help get it resolved. 
   

EXPLAINED

• People are missing out on the important healthcare they need or having to travel miles for that care, simply because there are no clinics close to them. 
• In addition to the inconvenience, financial barriers may make it difficult for someone to travel to an appointment. 
• For example, if you’re having to travel for hours to access a clinic that will bulk bill you, the amount of money you have to spend on fuel to get there, or having to take unpaid time off work for the trip - could mean the trip is still not financially viable for you. 

OUR GREENS PLAN

• Establish 1000 Free Local Healthcare Clinics across Australia, where you can see a GP, dentist, psychologist or nurse with no out of pocket costs. 
• There will be at least 6 local healthcare clinics in each Federal electorate meaning you’ll no longer be travelling for miles for the healthcare you need. 
   

EXPLAINED

• Even when out of pocket costs are low, the initial appointment payment may still be a financial barrier. 
• For example at the end of your GP appointment, you may be  required to pay $200, you’ll  then get a $150 rebate from Medicare, leaving you $50 out of pocket.  If you don’t have $200 to spare initially, you can’t access the healthcare you need. 

OUR GREENS PLAN

• At our Free Local Healthcare Clinics all you need is your Medicare card. 

EXPLAINED

• After 7+ years of medical school and racking up an average HECS debt of $250,000 the average GP in Australia gets paid around $88k annually in the first few years of employment. 
• Comparably surgeons receive an average annual salary upwards of $200k at the beginning of their careers. 
• This discrepancy has led to an undervaluing of GP’s in our community over time and a GP workforce shortage, contributing to the current limited availability of appointments at many clinics.  

Source: Australian Medical Student Journal, General Practice Registrars Australia, Medrecruit

OUR GREENS PLAN

• Will correct the workforce shortage by ensuring GP trainees receive equal pay to their hospital trainee counterparts.