The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has welcomed the Albanese Government’s $8.5 billion Medicare investment, announced yesterday, which will fund 400 extra nursing and midwifery scholarships and increased access to bulk-billing.
If re-elected, Labor will expand its GP bulk-billing incentive payments, currently only applied to children under 16, pensioners, and concession card holders, to all Australians from 1 November 2025. It says this will lead to 9 out of 10 GP visits being bulk-billed by 2030, tripling the current number of fully bulk-billed practices to about 4,800 nationally.
On top of the bulk billing incentive, fully bulk-billing practices will receive an extra 12.5% loading payment on their Medicare rebates.
Altogether, the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program will mean that a metropolitan GP clinic that bulk-bills all adults will see their Medicare rebate climb almost two-thirds higher for a standard GP consultation – increasing from $42.85 to $69.56. The same consult at a regional or rural practice will almost double, rising from $42.85 to $84.86, depending on location.
The government says its record Medicare investment will deliver an additional 18 million bulk-billed visits each year and save patients $859 million a year by 2030.
Describing the investment as “the biggest boost to Medicare in its history” at yesterday’s announcement in Launceston, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the plan would guarantee access to healthcare for all.
“One card guarantees it all. One card covers it all. Not your credit card – your Medicare card,” he said.
Labor’s $8.5 billion Medicare commitment, which the Coalition has agreed to match, also includes $617 million to produce more nurses and doctors. The investment includes $10.5 million over two years for 400 additional scholarships for nurses and midwives to undertake postgraduate study to extend their skills and qualifications and attain endorsement as a nurse practitioner or endorsed midwife.
“We know that highly skilled nurses and midwives are a critical part of the solution to fix the current problems in our health system and to ensure it can meet the needs of all Australians now and into the future,” ANMF Federal Secretary Annie Butler said.
“We continue to call on the government to support the work of nurses and midwives, allowing them to work to their full scope of practice and delivering best health outcomes across the community.”
The ANMF welcomed the boost to Medicare amid ever-increasing cost of living pressures, saying that more bulk-billing services will not only save Australians money by enabling them to access timely care when they need it.
“Medicare has been the pillar of universal healthcare for all Australians, but after 40 years it needs renewal to ensure it meets the needs of today’s population,” Ms Butler said.
“If people can access affordable care when they need it they will be less likely to end up in already overstretched emergency departments, helping to take pressure off our health system.”
One Response
Hi, I have been a member for over 20 years. I am currently a NP in primary health. Will I and future NPs be able to compete against these increases in bulk billing for GPs? Does you have any plans to address this?
Regards
Angela Mcginnis