This landmark investment is designed to reverse the decline in bulk billing rates, reduce financial barriers for patients, and ensure that quality healthcare remains accessible to every Australian.

The Dawn of a New Era in Australian Primary Care

For patients and families, this reform means a renewed promise that they should only need their Medicare card, not their credit card, to access essential GP services. This focus on affordability is supported by the government’s ambitious goal: to achieve a bulk billing rate of 9 out of 10 GP visits by 2030, effectively tripling the number of fully bulk billing practices across the country.

This positive shift is delivered through two key mechanisms that commenced on November 1, 2025: the expansion of existing Bulk Billing Incentives (BBIs) and the introduction of the new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP). At the heart of this change is the commitment of experienced professionals, like Dr. Predrag Urosevic, a distinguished General Practitioner with over 30 years of medical expertise, to upholding high standards while navigating this new framework for the benefit of the local community we serve, including the Garden City, Mt Gravatt, Carindale areas.

Section 1: Unlocking Universal Access and Patient Savings

The primary goal of the expanded incentives is immediate and substantial financial relief for Australian households. The investment is projected to save patients and families a collective $859 million annually in out-of-pocket costs by 2030.

1.1 Expanding Eligibility for Bulk Billing

Previously, higher bulk billing incentives were primarily restricted to vulnerable groups, such as children under 16 and Commonwealth concession card holders. As of November 1, 2025, the eligibility for these incentives—including the ‘tripled’ rates for common consultations—is extended to all Medicare-eligible patients.

This structural change fundamentally improves affordability across the board. By reducing the financial burden, the policy is expected to generate an estimated 18 million additional bulk billed GP visits every year. Health organizations, such as the Cancer Council, welcome this expansion, noting that reducing out-of-pocket expenses is crucial for encouraging early presentation of symptoms, improving timely detection, and ensuring continuous follow-through on essential referrals.

1.2 MyMedicare: Supporting Continuity of Care

The commitment to affordability is balanced by the need for quality, continuous care. MyMedicare is positioned to be the essential partner to bulk billing, formally linking patients with their regular general practice and provider.

For patients registered with MyMedicare, this link unlocks access to enhanced services that support quality outcomes:

  • Extended Telehealth Options: Patients gain access to longer Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS)-funded telephone calls (Levels C and D) with their usual practice, crucial for managing chronic conditions.
  • Complex Condition Management: From July 1, 2025, MyMedicare-linked practices will be eligible for new Chronic Condition Management items, ensuring that the necessary time and resources are funded for people with complex and ongoing health needs.

Section 2: The BBPIP: A Blueprint for Sustainable Practice Quality

For practices committed to delivering comprehensive, high-quality care, the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) offers a vital financial mechanism to transition to a universal bulk billing model while maintaining clinical excellence.

2.1 The 12.5% Incentive and the 50/50 Split

The BBPIP provides an additional quarterly incentive payment of 12.5% on MBS benefits earned from eligible services. This revenue uplift is strategically designed to replace the need for volatile patient gap fees, creating a reliable, predictable source of funding for general practice operations.

Crucially, this incentive payment is split evenly—50% to the individual GP and 50% to the practice entity. This structural split formally recognizes and funds the dual requirements of high-quality care:

  • GP Support: The provider’s share offers a transparent bonus, supporting the clinician’s commitment to universal bulk billing.
  • Practice Investment: The practice’s share ensures capital is available for essential operational costs, such as retaining experienced nursing and administrative staff, upgrading medical equipment, and investing in modern digital infrastructure—all necessary elements for a robust medical centre.

Government modeling indicates that the combined investment will place approximately 4,800 practices in a superior financial position if they fully bulk bill, receiving more in Medicare payments than they currently generate from patient fees.

2.2 Operational Excellence through Team-Based Care

Successfully managing the anticipated increase in patient demand, while protecting consultation quality, requires practices to optimize their operational models. The investment provided by the BBPIP revenue stream allows high-quality centres to formalize and expand Multidisciplinary Team (MDT) care.

MDT models, which often integrate nurses, allied health professionals, and administrative support, are proven to improve patient outcomes, reduce care fragmentation, and enhance chronic disease management. By utilizing the BBPIP funding to support these team structures and integrate modern technology, practices can streamline administration, allowing GPs to focus their time and expertise on complex clinical decision-making, ensuring patients receive comprehensive and unhurried attention.

Our Dedication to Community Health

The expanded bulk billing incentives and the implementation of the BBPIP represent a positive and timely economic intervention that secures a more accessible future for Australian healthcare. This strategic investment empowers practices to align their financial model with their ethical commitment to patients.

The commitment of experienced practitioners, such as Dr Predrag Urosevic, is to utilize this new framework to provide highly accessible and high-quality care. We are dedicated to ensuring that our local practice, serving the medical centre Garden City community, remains a centre of excellence where patient health always takes precedence over financial considerations.

For more information on high-quality medical care and our commitment to the community, please visit https://drpredragurosevic.com

References

  1. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Strengthening Medicare GP Bulk Billing Incentive. Australian Government, 2025.
  2. Butler, Mark. “Medicare shake-up as bulk-billing incentives tripled.” The Canberra Times, 25 October 2023.
  3. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. “Largest investment in bulk billing in Medicare’s 40-year history takes effect.” Media Release, 1 November 2023.
  4. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). General Practice: The True Cost of Care. RACGP, 2023.
  5. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) – Notes for Providers – General Medical Services. MBS Online, 1 November 2025.
  6. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program Guidelines. Australian Government, 2025.
  7. Dr Predrag Urosevic. About Dr Predrag Urosevic. drpredragurosevic.com.
  8. Australian Medical Association (AMA). AMA calls for more comprehensive reform to fully restore Medicare. Media Release, 24 October 2023.
  9. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. MBS Online – Bulk Billing Incentives. MBS Online, 1 November 2025.
  10. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. MBS Group M1 – Bulk Billing Incentives. MBS Online, 1 November 2025.
  11. Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP). “RACGP welcomes support for bulk billing, but stresses comprehensive reforms still needed.” Media Release, 24 October 2023.
  12. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. “Investing in a stronger Medicare: Bulk billing incentives.” Australian Government, 2024.
  13. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. MyMedicare – For General Practices. Australian Government, 2024.
  14. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program – Frequently Asked Questions. Australian Government, 2025.
  15. Cancer Council Australia. “Cancer Council NSW welcomes tripling of bulk billing incentive.” News, 25 October 2023.
  16. Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. MyMedicare – Patient Information. Australian Government, 2024.
  17. Australian Medical Association (AMA). AMA calls for more comprehensive reform to fully restore Medicare. Media Release, 24 October 2023.
  18. Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council (AHMAC). National Strategic Framework for Rural and Remote Health. AHMAC, 2011.