Latest Cleanbill report reveals only 41 GP clinics across Western Australia fully bulk billing

WA has endured the biggest fall in bulk-billed GPs across mainland Australia over the past two years, with just one clinic providing free health care for every 46,000 people in the State. A new data breakdown from online healthcare directory Cleanbill, to be released on Monday, revealed only 41 out of 661 clinics in WA were bulk billing all patients — only 6.2 per cent. That is a 4 per cent drop in one year and a more than 20 per cent decline since 2023, the single largest drop in the nation over that period. Cleanbill chief executive James Gillespie said there was only “one bulk-billing clinic for every 46,639 adults” in WA. “Western Australia is a large State with a large population and having that many bulk-billing clinics means it is more difficult for those adults to find affordable, available care around them as and when they need it,” Mr Gillespie said. The lack in bulk billing has been coupled with rising out-of-pocket costs for adult patients. The report found West Australians not covered by bulk billing were forking out an average of $42.66 for a standard doctor’s appointment — an increase of $1.60 in a year but 72¢ less than the national average. Limited availability of bulk-billed GPs and an increase in fees has led to more than 1.5 million Australians avoiding the doctor in the past year due to concerns around costs, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. “You can see that the decline that we’ve seen in bulk billing and the increases that we’ve seen in out-of-pocket costs are actively resulting in Australians not going to see the GP because of concerns surrounding costs,” Mr Gillespie said. “I don’t think that’s a situation anyone wants to see.” Myaree mother Natalie Richardson is among the growing number of West Australians struggling to find a bulk-billed doctor. “There was changes to my doctors that I see on a regular basis later last year,” she said. “If I had gone to the doctors a couple of times in a month, the second time they would bulk bill me, but that doesn’t even happen anymore. “All of a sudden that is gone and the prices have increased — I think it’s gone up about $20 a visit in the last year.” Ms Richardson said she was forking out $70 to $80 for every appointment before receiving just over $42 back from Medicare. She also fears blood tests could soon no longer be bulk billed after being warned by pathology services. “My daughter was born at 26 weeks and when she was born they didn’t know if she actually developed a thyroid, so every three months she’s got to have blood tests done,” she said. “We have been given the heads up that in future we may not be able to have two separate blood forms and they will be starting to charge for that second one or you do a separate booking at another time. “Two bookings is far too traumatic on a small child, let alone the cost associated if we decide to do them at the same time. “We are told Australia has the best health care system in the world — it’s not appearing to be like that recently.” Federal Health Minister Mark Butler said the government’s investment to strengthen Medicare had seen bulk billing rise again in every state and territory with 77.2 per cent of GP visits bulk billed in November 2024. “Every state and territory now has more bulk billing, with the largest rise in some states which have historically struggled with lower rates of bulk billing,” he said. “The number of Australians visiting their GP has also increased in the past 12 months, with a 1.2 percentage point increase in the number of GP visits overall.” But Australian Patients Association chief executive Lisa Robins said there had been a sharp drop in GPs that fully bulk-bill all patients signalling a growing affordability crisis, forcing many Aussies to delay essential care. “Rising out-of-pocket costs are making GP care increasingly unaffordable, leaving patients on lower or fixed incomes feeling burdened or excluded from a healthcare system that should serve everyone,” she said. “We don’t want a system where those who can afford to pay can access care, while others are delaying or missing critical medical screenings, assessments, and treatments. “We’re concerned about a future where Western Australian patients are forced to choose between their health and their finances. This is an unsustainable and unacceptable situation, and urgent action is needed to ensure all patients can access the care they deserve.” She called on the Federal Government to “urgently address the bulk billing decline by collaborating with healthcare professionals and patient advocates”. “To ensure healthcare remains accessible for all patients, we urgently need solutions like higher Medicare rebates, expanded roles for nurses and pharmacists, and innovative funding models for primary care,” Ms Robins said.