BY DANEIE GEDDES
In last nights budget, the Federal Government finally delivered long-awaited Medicare funding to maintain and improve access to bulk billing.
The Government tripled the Medicare Bulk Billing incentive from $6.60 to $19.80.
Last year, GPs across the Hunter began ceasing bulk billing due to the under funding of Medicare.
Healthcare providers in the Hunter have been calling for an increase after the latest Clean Bill report revealed the Hunter had some of the worst bulk billing rates in NSW.
Vice President of the Doctors Reform Society Dr Robert Marr said the move has saved affordable access to healthcare in the Hunter.
"The saving of Medicare bulk billing will reduce unnecessary suffering and even deaths that would have occurred if patients could not afford to go to the doctor," Dr Marr said.
"So many patients will be relieved at the change, as for months they have been chasing a bulk billing clinic they can afford, where they can get consistent care from a doctor they have known for years," he said.
Last month in Newcastle, of the 45 GP clinics across the city, none offered bulk billing.
The increase is a major advance for healthcare in the Hunter and will support free and consistent GP visits, reducing financial stress for Hunter residents.
"The long term changes will take years to have benefits but there is pleasingly a lot of good ideas the Government is working through with a clear reformist agenda," Dr Marr said.
The Doctors Reform Society is welcoming the Government's efforts to provide more funding to improve access to affordable GP visits across the Hunter.
