The Federal Government has announced record levels of bulk billing rates throughout the country, with Federal Minister for Health and Aging Nicola Roxon saying the trend supports growing demand in the sector.

 

“September quarter 2011 Medicare bulk billing figures released today show that 75.9 per cent of all services were bulk billed, equal to the March quarter record numbers," Ms Roxon said.

“86 million services and $4.5 billion in benefits were provided to Australians.”

The September quarter’s equal record 75.9 per cent bulk-billing rate was up 0.5 of a percentage point on the June quarter 2011 and up 1.3 percentage points on the September quarter 2010.

Bulk billing of GP attendances was 80.7 per cent in the September quarter 2011, down 0.2 of a percentage point on the June quarter 2011 and up 0.9 of a percentage point on the September quarter 2010.

State by state, bulk billing of GP attendances in the September quarter 2011 was:

  • NSW, unchanged compared with the June quarter 2011, at 85.6 per cent
  • Victoria, unchanged at 79.8 per cent
  • Queensland, down 0.5 of a percentage point to 80.2 per cent
  • South Australia, up 0.2 of a percentage point to 80.0 per cent
  • Western Australia, down 0.6 of a percentage point to 72.5 per cent
  • Tasmania, down 0.2 of a percentage point to 74.8 per cent
  • Northern Territory, down 0.2 of a percentage point to 69.3 per cent
  • ACT, down 0.5 of a percentage point to 47.1 per cent.