In the 2023 budget, the federal labor government invested $3.5 billion dollars into the healthcare industry which tripled the bonus paid to doctors when they bulk billed children, pensioners and concession cardholders.

As a result, an extra 5 million free GP visits were added last year, however, working Australians aged between 16 and 64 are paying more to see a doctor.

Cleanbill Founder and CEO James Gillespie told Shane Doherty on 4BC Summer Drive, “You’re talking about over 1.5 million Australians not going to see the GP because of concerns surrounding cost and that’s the unfortunate consequence of bulk billing rates continuing to slide downwards, which is what we’ve seen over the past couple of years.”

Hear more highlights from 4BC Summer Drive below:

Image: A Current Affair/Canva

Download this podcast here