MP Letter To GP Clinic Sparks Concerns Over Bulk‑Billing Pressure
12 Mar 2026
The letter seen by newsGP said the MP had heard from people in the area who were unhappy the practice was not bulk billing all patients. It encouraged the clinic to consider moving to 100 % bulk‑billing and suggested using the Government’s bulk‑billing calculator to work out the financial impact of such a change.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) President Dr Michael Wright said the letter is part of ongoing advocacy from the College to educate politicians about why some practices don’t adopt bulk‑billing. He explained that current incentives often don’t cover the real cost of providing care, especially for longer appointments.
Nearly 1 300 practices have changed their billing approach under the Federal Government’s Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP), and Australia’s overall bulk‑billing rate is 81.4%. The Government has also launched an advertising campaign encouraging more clinics to take up bulk‑billing.
Federal Health Minister Mark Butler has said he may take action if practices do not join the plan, stating he wants to ensure people can access bulk‑billed visits in their communities.
Dr Wright said politicians should visit general practices to understand why not all clinics bulk‑bill every patient, pointing out that current policy doesn’t work for every practice. He said the RACGP will continue to support practices no matter how they choose to bill.
The College has also released a template letter for practices to use when replying to MPs who contact them about billing policies. The Labor MP was approached for comment.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/