Data shows steep decline in NT bulk-billing, sparking concerns for impacts on hospital system

The Northern Territory has experienced the steepest decline in bulk-billing rates of anywhere in the country in the past year, according to new data.

Bulk-billed doctor visits — where a federal government rebate covers the full cost of the appointment, leaving no out-of-pocket cost for the patient — have been rapidly declining across Australia in recent years.

Online GP directory Cleanbill, which collects information on pricing and the availability of healthcare across Australia, looked at 6,925 clinics nation-wide between October 2024 and January 2025 and found just 20.5 per cent now offer bulk-billed appointments.

In the NT, Cleanbill contacted 44 clinics and found just 9.5 per cent offer bulk-billing to all patients — a figure the company said marked a decrease of 10 per cent on the year prior, and the largest decline of any state or territory.

The directory’s data also shows the average out-of-pocket cost to see a doctor in the NT ($43.86) is the fourth highest in Australia, behind Tasmania ($54.26), the ACT ($51.84), and NSW ($44.05), and is marginally above the national average ($43.38). 

Woman with bob haircut sits on a purple chair in an empty doctor waiting room.
The NT is also the fourth most expensive place to see a doctor, according to the data.  (ABC News: Grace Burmas)

Cleanbill chief executive James Gillespie noted its bulk-billing figures did not include practices that offered mixed billing options, with doctors who see concession card holders given additional funding to bulk-bill those patients.

According to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, the number of Australians who delayed seeing a doctor due to cost doubled between 2021 and 2023.

“That means the change that we’re seeing in bulk-billing rates, and the increases we’re seeing in out-of-pocket costs around the country, is directly resulting in fewer people going to see the GP because of concerns around cost,” Mr Gillespie said.

‘Pretty much impossible’ to find affordable doctors, locals say

The ABC spoke to several residents in the Darwin satellite city of Palmerston about their struggle to find bulk-billed doctor’s appointments.

Palmerston resident Emmanuel Kamitsis said he still lived at home to manage the rising cost of living, and a visit to the doctor was often something he avoided.

“Times are hard, the bills are going up, nothing is getting any cheaper,” he said.

“I did pay a decent amount up-front and even just for a quick check-up, it’s bit ridiculous, but I guess that’s life now, isn’t it?”

A sing on a metal fence that advertises bulk billing, in the background is a another sign for shops in the centre
There are still some GP clinics in Darwin that offer bulk-billing. (ABC News: Michael Donnelly)

Shane Aldrick said he was able to get bulk-billed appointments at his local clinic but knew that wasn’t the case for many. 

“I know it puts a lot of people off,” he said.

“When I was a bit younger I’d put it off and try to scrape money together to see a doctor … there’s a lot of people out there who can’t afford to see a doctor.”

Local resident Sonya said it was already “pretty much impossible” to get a doctor’s appointment.

“Most people I know don’t see a doctor, they’d rather wait at hospital because they don’t have the funds to go see a doctor,” she said.

Decline in bulk-bulling putting pressure on emergency care

Australian Medical Association NT president Associate Professor Robert Parker said efforts to increase Medicare rebates were not having the desired impact for GP clinics. 

In 2023, the federal Labor government promised to triple incentives to address the sharp decline in bulk-billing in recent years. GPs leave $140 million in Medicare incentives unclaimed

Photo shows Close-up of a green Medicare card with a calculator and money in the backgroundClose-up of a green Medicare card with a calculator and money in the background

In 2023, the government tripled Medicare incentives for some people, but doctors didn’t claim all the benefits. Here’s why.

The government allocated a further $2.8 billion to strengthen Medicare in the 2024-2025 federal budget, however the funding has not reversed the downward trend in the number of clinics offering fully bulk-billed appointments.

“GP practices are in essence businesses — they’ve got to pay staff, they’ve got to pay rent, practice costs,” Dr Parker said.

“Even though there’s been an increase in the Medicare rebate to allow for bulk-billing, that hasn’t been sufficient to keep some GP practices having to charge more.”

Dr Parker said the decline in bulk-billing and rise in out-of-pocket costs was having a significant impact on the territory’s already overburdened hospital system.

A white man with a black think glasses frame, wearing a blue buttoned up shirt in front of some greenery
Robert Parker says current government incentives aren’t enough to reverse the trend away from bulk-billing.  (ABC News: Dane Hirst)

The NT has some of the highest rates of chronic illness in the country, with health department data showing chronic diseases cause eight out of 10 premature deaths in the territory. 

“If people can’t afford to go to GPs and get regular reviews, then unfortunately they then tend to experience an acute crisis in those illnesses and … present to hospitals and emergency departments,” Dr Parker said.

Emergency hospital sing with hospital building in background
Robert Parker is concerned a lack of affordable GP appointments will put more pressure on the NT’s struggling hospital system. (ABC News: Dane Hirst)

“Instead of having a day or two admission, you end up spending a week in hospital, so it just adds to further pressure on the system.”

Dr Parker said the AMA NT would support alternative funding models for care, including more urgent care clinics and lump-sum payments to clinics that managed patients with chronic illness.

LEAVE A REPLY

- Our Partners -

DON'T MISS

- Advertisment -
- Advertisment -