Medicare policy: Coalition casts doubt every Australian will ‘see a GP for free’ under Labor’s $8.5b plan

Coalition senators have cast doubt on Labor’s claim that every Australian will “see a GP for free” under the Government’s $8.5 billion Medicare plan.

On Wednesday, Health Department officials told Senate estimates comprehensive GP-by-GP level modelling had been undertaken to determine how many clinics would be better off with the tripled incentives.

However, they wouldn’t table the data.

“There’s a fair bit of sensitivity in that data,” the department’s resourcing co-deputy secretary Daniel McCabe said.

“That modelling actually has all of the rebates that are paid through to patients and all of the out-of-pocket data for every health professional that works in general practice.

“The model itself won’t be released because we actually have strict legislative obligations.”

Labor claims around 4800 GP clinics nationally would begin to bulk-bill — triple the current number.

Across WA, Labor estimates practices willing to bulk-bill will grow to more than 400 and says Perth’s current 23 bulk-billing clinics was expected to rise to 250.

However, shadow Health Minister Anne Ruston said it was misleading to claim every Aussies would “only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to receive the healthcare”.

It wasn’t assured nor an obligation that every GP would join the bulk-billing wave, she said.

Labor released further details on Wednesday night, claiming the average practice was estimated to receive $344,000 in additional Medicare payments per year.

Larger clinics could receive $1.2 million while smaller GPs may receive an extra $90,000 in the cities and $104,000 in the regions.

Ms Ruston highlighted that the Coalition had been more prudent and hadn’t offered the same free-for-all promises.

“At no time have I, or anybody from the Coalition, ever suggested that the only card you needed to take to the doctor going forward was your Medicare card,” Ms Ruston said.

“We have never said that Australians will get access to free GP services without exception.”

Health Minister Mark Butler said Ms Ruston’s remarks showed Liberals had no plan to deliver free GP visits despite leader Peter Dutton commitment on Sunday.

The Coalition’s $9 billion and Labor $8.5b pledges mark the largest investment in Medicare since its creation over 40 years ago.

Burt MP Matt Keogh said families in his Perth electorate were “feeling the pinch” and saving on out-of-pocket costs would help in a cost-of-living crisis. He estimated a retired couple needing typical GP service usage would likely to save $415 a year.

Labor have given themselves until 2030 to fulfil its promise that nine out of 10 GP visits would be bulk billed — lifting the bulk billing rate to 90 per cent from its current 77.7 per cent.

Australian Capital Territory Senator David Pocock said while he welcomed the increase of Canberra bulk-billing clinics from two to 27, feedback from local GPs cast doubt all were onboard.

A survey by the independent Senator of all 80 ACT clinics in the wake of Labor’s announcement revealed not all planned to transition.

“Over 25 have come back to me. Not a single one said, with these incentives, every GP in their practice will bulk bill all their patients,” he said.