How are GPs paid?

​NO Salary           NO Annual Leave      NO Sick Leave  NO Overtime

 

GPs in Australia are paid by their patients based on the time and complexity of each consultation.

They can only charge for the time spent with their patients.

 

Most Australians have a Medicare Card. Some also have a Health Care Card or Pension Card.

If you have a Medicare Card, then you will get part of the cost of each consultation refunded to you by Medicare.

 

*If your GP “bulk-bills” your consultation, this means your GP agrees to accept a substantially reduced payment directly from Medicare, so you have no “out of pocket” expense.

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For example, GPs in this practice charge $90/$70 concession for a standard consultation (face to face or telephone)

lasting more than 6 minutes and less than 20 minutes.

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A percentage of this fee goes to the practice for rent, staff costs, electricity, phones, equipment, IT costs, etc.,

If you are bulk billed, your GP gets just $42.85, minus the percentage paid to the practice.

 

*If you are under 16 years of age, or have a Health Care Card or Pension Card, the GP may also get a “bulk-billing incentive” which means that your GP gets a total of $64.20, before paying the practice percentage.

 

Most doctors and practices simply cannot afford to bulk-bill everybody.

We always try to consider individual circumstances, but please remember when you ask to be bulk billed

that your doctor is subsidizing your medical care.

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If your doctor has always bulk-billed you in the past, please be grateful for this.

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