Media release – Labor Senator Helen Polley, 6 June 2024
GREATER ACCESS TO BUILK BILLING ACROSS TASMANIA
Tasmania has seen an overall increase in the rate of bulk billing since the Albanese Government tripled the GP bulk billing incentive, meaning more Tasmanians have been bulk billed when they visit their GP.
This has saved patients across Tasmania hundreds of thousands of dollars in gap fees, delivering cost of living relief when families need it.
In October 2023 the bulk billing rate across Tasmania was 66.3% – in May the bulk billing rate across the state was 74.4%.
This means that children, pensioners, and healthcare card holders across Tasmania are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor.
It also means that our local GPs who bulk bill are getting more Government support for their vital services.
This bulk billing improvement is part of the Albanese Government’s Strengthening Medicare reforms and is the largest bulk billing investment in Medicare’s 40-year history.
Labor introduced Medicare and so we will always only ever strengthen Medicare while delivering real cost of living relief including more bulk billing, 60 day dispensing of prescriptions and cheaper medicines.
The cost of prescription medicines listed on the PBS will be capped at $31.60 for the next financial year. For pensioners and concession card holders, the $7.70 cap will be frozen until June 31, 2029.
These cost of living relief measures are working alongside tax cuts for every Tasmanian taxpayer from July 1, including for 47,000 tax payers across northern Tasmania and a $300 energy rebate for every household.
