Over 1000 Clinics Express Interest in Bulk-Billing Incentive
16 Oct 2025
The Department confirmed the updated figure to newsGP this week, after officials told a Senate Estimates hearing that “over 900” clinics had lodged expressions of interest (EOIs).
A DoHDA spokesperson said the Department had been receiving EOIs at a steady rate since the launch of its bulk billing incentives calculator on 22 September.
“We expect to continue receiving EOIs until the program goes live on 1 November,” the spokesperson said.
Modelling and Revised Data
Documents recently released under the Freedom of Information Act show that, under DoHDA modelling, 2255 clinics (34%) were considered very likely to join the new program, while 2559 (39%) were likely and 1820 (27%) were unlikely to participate.
The Department has since acknowledged a “transcription error” in previous reporting that had listed the ‘unlikely’ group at 23% rather than 27%.
The modelling, provided in a brief to Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler following the May election, also noted that while some patients would continue to face out-of-pocket costs, the program “may increase competition in the market and consumer demand for bulk billing, which may lead to higher uptake.”
Senate Estimates Hearings
At last week’s Senate Estimates, DoHDA First Assistant Secretary Daniel McCabe said around 800–850 practices were found to be fully bulk billing when the modelling was conducted.
He told Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing Senator Anne Ruston there had not yet been an analysis comparing EOIs with existing bulk-billing clinics.
Mr McCabe said approximately 3600 clinics are expected to join the program within the next two years, based on modelling of historical behaviour in response to similar government interventions.
“When we modelled this significant investment, we looked at what happens historically in Medicare when governments make interventions around bulk billing,” he said.
“It took around four years for GPs and practices to take on board all of those measures during the early 2000s, and we expect similar behaviour this time.”
GP Response
RACGP President Dr Michael Wright said many GPs are still weighing up the benefits and challenges of joining the new incentive.
“It’s a big decision for a practice to change its billing model, so it’s not surprising there is a degree of caution,” Dr Wright said.
“Clinics and GPs are only going to take this up if the numbers stack up — if it’s in the best interests of their patients and their practice’s financial viability.”
He said the impact will vary across different practice types and regions.
“For some practices, these announcements and additional funding will be a great support, particularly in rural and remote areas that have long needed targeted help,” he said.
“However, many GPs and practice owners still have questions and remain unconvinced about whether these changes will work for them. Importantly, there is no urgency to sign up before 1 November.”
The RACGP continues to support GPs through a series of webinars with Cubiko, providing practical guidance on how practices can prepare for the new bulk-billing changes.
Recordings are available on the Cubiko website.
Source: Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA); Senate Estimates; Freedom of Information documents; Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP); newsGP.