Liesel Ryan

@AlboMP @SenKatyG @JEChalmers GP appointments may be ‘free’ when patient Medicare rebates are adequate to cover the cost of care. Which is unlikely to happen. Private billing is here to stay.

Free GP appointments. Free TAFE. Even cheaper medicines. Cutting 20% off student debt. $150 off power bills. And getting more Australians into their own home. Cost of living help remains our number one focus – and Australians can expect to see more in tonight's Budget.

@AlboMP No. You.Wont. How many times do us GPs have to tell you that unless you raise the value of patient rebates to market value, we will continue to charge patients a gap. Private billing is here to stay

ICYMI: You’ll be able to see the GP for free under Labor.

@JasonClareMP Not free, paid for with taxpayer dollars

We have just announced the biggest investment in Medicare ever - so more Australians can see the doctor for free.

@AvidCommentator Just to clarify a little detail - it isn’t the patient rebate itself that is being increased, it is the incentive that a GP will get (but only if they BB that appt) that takes the total value to $69.56. It may seem like a little detail but it’s not.

'GP visits to become free for most under $8.5b 'legacy defining' Labor Medicare promise' Okay let's briefly unpack this. The cornerstone of the policy is raising the rebate rate for GP consultations. For a standard consult the rebate rises from $42.85 to $69.56 in a metro area. A positive to be sure. But let's put it into perspective. According to the RACGP, in 2024 the average gap fee for those not qualifying for bulk billing is $37. So at an average level for a standard consult, it covers about 72% of the gap that has developed over time. The goal is to have 90% of all consultations bulk billed by 2030. It's worth making a distinction here though. This doesn't mean 90% of people get bulk billed though, it's the total number of consultations overall, which heavily skew toward the elderly who qualify for greater levels of govt support to ensure they are bulk billed. Under the final year of the Morrison government 88.5% of GP visits were bulk billed. So basically by 2030 things will be marginally better than they were under Morrison, statistically speaking. There are also other elements to the policy focused on such increased training places. Overall, it's a welcome change, but it's coming after over a decade of bipartisan neglect and greater intervention is required. What this does illustrate however, is that a major dent can be made in the issue for less than 1 years worth of growth in the NDIS. I may get into much greater detail on this in a full article at a later date. abc.net.au/news/2025-02-2…

@AdamBandt False. GPs are sole traders and set their own fees; the proposal to triple the BB incentive still falls short of the actual cost of care; and healthcare is not ‘free’ (it is paid for by taxpayers)

It's good Labor has adopted part of our plan to help people see the GP for free, now let's make it law before the election. The PM should recall Parliament this week to legislate & Dutton-proof this policy. Then next Parliament we can keep Dutton out & get dental into Medicare.

@AlboMP Unless you plan to mandate that GPs bulk bill (in which case they would have to be seen as gvt employees and therefore also receive paid sick leave, holiday pay, superannuation etc etc) then this is a very misleading statement.

Your Medicare card will be all you'll need to see the GP with our biggest ever boost to Medicare.

@Mark_Butler_MP GP visits are not ‘free’, as you well know. They are paid for by taxpayer dollars.

BREAKING: Labor will make the largest boost to Medicare ever so you can see the GP for free.

@gasugasu1984 @stephenjduckett Good question. The answer is hard to pinpoint as BB rates are measured in various ways and are not necessarily accurate. I personally only BB pensioners if they are in dire financial straits, or they pay just like everyone else

All Australians to get bulk-billing boost under Labor’s $8.5b plans for health reform theage.com.au/politics/feder…

@KMBoof @stephenjduckett I agree 100% Patients really need higher rebates to help with the costs of longer appointments where all the heavy lifting of chronic and mental health occurs

@stephenjduckett @DrLiesel But it's the wrong care. This benefits fast throughput care, not encouraging longer consults for better chronic or complex disease care, mental health or preventative care. Good Medicine that keeps people out of the hospital system.

@stephenjduckett Whether the bulk billing incentive will be indexed to inflation will be a key factor. History suggests otherwise

@DrLiesel I agree many practices won't change, but many will - despite the gap between the new payment and current average patient out of pocked for non bulk billed. That said, I think govt will achieve target of 90% of attendances bulk billed, so pretty transformational

@AlboMP Tripling the BB incentive will increase the remuneration for a patient’s consult BUT it still falls short of the actual cost of providing care. I, for one, won’t subsidise patient care out of my own pocket. I will continue to bill privately in order to pay my bills.

‘But Labor’s plan will also depend heavily on whether doctors take up the proposed incentive, particularly in metropolitan areas where rents and staff costs are higher’@RACGPPresident @amapresident @AlboMP abc.net.au/news/2025-02-2…

@SenSanders We are watching in disbelief from Australia, although we should hardly be surprised given Trump’s record of lying and spreading disinformation wilfully

We are witnessing a very sad moment in American history. The President of the United States is aligning himself with the dictator of Russia, Vladimir Putin, to undermine the independence of Ukraine and its democracy. Here are my thoughts: