Report reveals surge in bulk billing GPs

Monday, 12 January 2026 19:47

The latest data from health care directory Cleanbill has revealed a stunning turnaround in the number of GP clinics bulk billing.

The average Sydneysider is paying $50 to visit the GP despite a surge across the country in practices offering bulk billing.

The latest data from health care directory Cleanbill has revealed a stunning turnaround in the number of GP clinics bulk billing.

They have more than doubled to about 40 per cent across the country in the past year.

But NSW is doing better than most.

Of 2342 clinics surveyed, 52 percent now bulk bill, up from just a third a year ago and one of the best results in the country.

So what's driving this change?

"From 1 November the government increased the amount GP clinics across the country receive for becoming fully bulk billing, and so we've seen it make more economic sense for a lot more GP clinics across the country to adopt that fully bulk billing model," Cleanbill chief executive James Gillespie said.

From November 1 the government increased the amount GP clinics across the country received for becoming fully bulk billing and so we've seen it make more economic sense for a lot more GP clinics across the country to adopt that fully bulk billed model, James Gillespie, Cleanbill Chief Executive said.

But the news isn't as good at clinics that don't bulk bill.

The average out-of-pocket cost for visiting those GPs in NSW has jumped from $44 last year to more than $50 this year - up almost 15 per cent.

And it seems Sydneysiders are bearing the brunt.

"GP clinics in cities actually receive lower incentives than GP clinics in regional and rural areas which means that if you have a state like NSW that has a large regional population with a lot of GP clinics, those GP clinics are more likely to have switched to fully bulk billing because they're receiving more incentive to do so."

Overall NSW and the Northern Territory has more than 50 per cent of GP clinics which bulk bill, just up on the nationwide number of 40 per cent.

Tasmania has gone from having none last year to 37 now.

However the average cost of a consultation there which is not bulk billed is $100, a similar figure to the ACT.

The average out of pocket costs are also highest in Tasmania at almost $68 and lowest in Western Australia at just under $47.