The Royal Australian College of GPs has presented a comprehensive plan calling for improved access to general practitioner services, particularly for Australians under the age of 35. The proposal suggests that free GP visits become more widely available, bulk-billing rates be increased, and out-of-pocket expenses for longer consultations be reduced significantly. These measures come at a time when the federal election campaign is focusing on cost-of-living issues, promising to ease the financial burden on patients while enhancing the quality of primary care services.
The college's plan details several initiatives aimed at both expanding service capacity and making healthcare more affordable. It includes training 1,500 additional doctors over the next five years, boosting Medicare rebates for mental health consultations by 25 percent, and slashing the cost for longer GP visits. This comprehensive approach could potentially increase the number of bulk-billed GP appointments by 6.2 million annually and raise the overall bulk-billing rate to 85 percent, thereby reducing the strain on other parts of the health system like emergency departments and hospitals.
Young Australians, particularly those between 25 and 34, are expected to benefit greatly from the proposed reforms. The call to extend the bulk-billing incentive—which was previously limited to children under 16 and concession card holders—to this age group reflects concerns that young people are often forced to postpone medical care due to high costs. Personal accounts, such as that of a 23-year-old student who had to make difficult choices between essential needs and healthcare, underscore the urgency of the issue.
In addition to these measures, the proposal aims to make mental healthcare more accessible by increasing funding and adjusting Medicare rebates for GP-delivered mental health services. While the plan will require a significant initial investment from the federal government, proponents argue the long-term savings for both patients and the overall health system will justify the expenditure, by alleviating the demand on more expensive healthcare services.