Today, 1 February 2024 is Medicare’s 40th Birthday, and residents in Darwin and Palmerston are seeing the benefits of the Government’s record investments to strengthen it.
The rate of bulk billing in these areas has increased by 2.7 percentage points in the first two months since the Albanese Government tripled the GP bulk billing incentive, amounting to an estimated 1,842 additional bulk billed trips to the GP.
This has saved patients in Darwin and Palmerston an estimated $77,412 in gap fees in just the last two months, delivering cost of living relief when families need it most.
These savings are in addition to the $859,399 people in Darwin and Palmerston have saved on 73,405 cheaper scripts as a result of Labor’s cheaper medicines policies.
The nationwide bulk billing rate has risen, with an estimated 360,000 additional trips to the GP being bulk billed. This has saved Australians more than $15 million in GP gap fees in November and December.
This means that children, pensioners, and healthcare card holders in Darwin and Palmerston are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor than they have for decades.
It also means that our local GPs who bulk bill are getting more Government support for their vital services.
This landmark Budget initiative is a key part of the Government’s Strengthening Medicare reforms and is the largest bulk billing investment in Medicare’s 40-year history.
Labor introduced Medicare and now Labor is strengthening Medicare while delivering real cost of living relief to people in Darwin and Palmerston.
Quotes attributable to Federal Minister for Health and Aged Care Mark Butler:
“Doctors’ groups have called our tripling of the bulk billing incentive a game changer – and clearly it is.
“The Government committed to making it easier for people to see a bulk billing doctor – and the first two months of data show that is exactly what is happening right around the country, including in Darwin and Palmerston.
“This is a win all round – for patients, doctors and the health system – and will help to make Medicare stronger than it has ever been since Labor introduced it 40 years ago.”
Quotes attributable to Federal Member for Solomon (Darwin and Palmerston) Luke Gosling OAM:
“In 2024, the number one priority of the Albanese Government continues to be taking cost of living pressure off Territorians and their families without adding to inflation.
“Locals are finding it easier to see a bulk billing doctor because of Labor’s efforts to strengthen Medicare and this is delivering real and significant cost of living relief for people in Darwin and Palmerston.”
