The Federal Government says new bulk billing figures prove the ‘Mediscare’ campaign had no basis.

There has been an increase in the number of GP visits paid for by the bulk billing scheme, with 123 million visits out of 145 million being fully funded under Medicare in the 2015/16 financial year.

It equates to a 0.8 per cent increase in the amount of visits bulk billed compared to the previous year.

Health Minister Sussan Ley said that was higher than any rate a Labor government achieved.

“Across Australia there were 17 million more bulk billed GP attendances in the last 12 months, compared to Labor's last full year in office,” Ms Ley said.

“Medicare, that underpins universal affordable access for all Australians is continuing to work very well, to spend very well — which is good because [what] it proves is we're making that investment, $4 billion more in Medicare over the next four years.”

The Health Minister said the Coalition had invested over $21 billion in Medicare last year.

The Opposition focused its recent election campaign on claims that Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull wanted to privatise the service.

The so-called ‘Mediscare’ campaign was criticised as a piece of hyperbolic fear-mongering that was not precise enough to warn people about real risks to the health system, painting them instead as an existential threat to healthcare itself.

“The Medicare payment system will be managed inside Government, by Government, and continue to be delivered to every Australian by Government,” Ms Ley said.

“That's the pledge that the Prime Minister made during the election campaign.

“It's really bad news for Labor, that persists in trying to scare Australians that this Government is not investing in affordable health.”

Shadow Health Minister Catherine King disputed Ms Ley’s interpretation of the figures.

“These statistics also ignore the fact that out-of-pocket costs have more than doubled,” Ms King said.

“GPs have the best interests of their patients at heart, and many continued to bulk bill in 2015-16.

“They had been assured the freeze would be lifted in the budget, and were watching the outcome of the election.”