For the first time, on 1 November 2025, Labor is expanding eligibility for bulk billing incentives to all Australians and creating an additional new incentive payment for practices that bulk bill every patient.

The Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program will provide an additional 12.5% incentive payment on MBS benefits paid for eligible services, split between the GP and the practice, when participating GPs and their practice bulk bill all eligible patients for all eligible services.

The goal is for 9 out of 10 GP visits to be bulk billed by 2030, boosting the number of fully bulk billed practices in the Bendigo Electorate. 

GP practices around the country such as Springs Medical are telling us how this support is so important to them.

Practice managers and GPs can use the calculator, register their interest in the program and find more about bulk billing changes by visiting health.gov.au/BBPIP.

QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MEMBER FOR BENDIGO, LISA CHESTERS:

"Bulk billing is the beating heart of Medicare. Every time a GP bulk bills a patient, there’s no gap fee the patient is forced to find.

“After nine years of cuts and neglect by the former Liberal and Nationals government, we know that more and more GPs were forced to charge patients a gap fee. Bulk billing rates across the electorate were in free fall.

“The Albanese Government has made record investments in Medicare throughout our time in Government and allowing GPs to receive the bulk billing incentives for every patient they agree to bulk bill is the latest.”

QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO MINISTER BUTLER:

“Already GP practices around the country have said they will move to a fully bulk billing practice.” 

“Doctors and practices are making the shift because they know it is good for patients,

and it is good for their bottom line.” 

“The calculator will help practices and GPs see how mixed billing practices will be better off when they switch to fully bulk billed.” 

“We know this investment will work, because it has already worked for the patients the incentive already applies to - pensioners, concession cardholders, and families with kids.”

QUOTES ATTRIBUTABLE TO SPRINGS MEDICAL GPS

Dr Holly Lewis

"We are often the only clinic in town, and we don't want our patients punished for living in the country.  Springs clinics bulk billing is the right thing to do for our community.  It means that our patients will get the exceptional care they need and won't put off seeing their doctor.

Dr Brad Wyer

"We haven't seen this kind of investment in primary care in a really long time, and it is a real boost for regional general practice".