Overall, 45% of ~ 2,000 GPs in Healthed’s 28 April survey now work for a bulk billing practice – up from 20% of a similar sample size in May 2025.
In the previous fortnight’s survey, about a quarter of the 414 GPs who switched to bulk billing due to the new incentives are practice owners – and they had a slightly more optimistic take on the change than their GP colleagues who don’t own a practice.
Overall, 67% of practice owners rated the change to universal bulk billing as positive for themselves, their practice and their patients – compared with 56% of non-practice owners. Meanwhile, 13% of non-practice owners rated the change as negative, compared with 6% of practice owners.
Male GPs also viewed the change more positively than female GPs – and were more likely to say their personal and practice income had improved as a result.
In a follow-up survey held on 28 April, we asked GPs who’ve recently made the switch to share why they felt it was – or was not – worthwhile.
Many GPs who’ve recently changed to bulk billing cited improved access and continuity of care for patients as benefits – and increased patient load and time pressures as downsides.
Several commented that the change made sense in their own particular circumstances – but did not necessarily recommend it to others.
“I am a sessional GP working two sessions per week in a regional practice, co-located with the local hospital. In this setting, moving to universal bulk billing was seen as a prudent move, in light of the carrots handed out by the government in their aim to ensure medicine is delivered at the lowest common denominator. Whilst philosophically opposed to bulk billing, sometimes it is pragmatic to accept the management’s decision!”
“For me, it is very worthwhile. It would make my patients and myself much more relaxed in terms of cost. The added incentive is enough to sustain my practice for the next few years before I retire.”
“I feel I can offer excellent service via bulk billing – but at the cost of lower income/business profitability. Most of my colleagues privately bill some/many patients; I am 71 and my patients are as old and older mostly, so fixed limited incomes in a costly society. I feel many could not afford co-payment(gaps) and still see me as frequently as they need and deserve in managing their complex comorbidities.”
“It depends on the practice, but I would say be cautious. Universal bulk billing can improve access for patients and increase patient numbers. However, it may reduce income per visit and put pressure on time and resources. I would recommend carefully reviewing finances and workload before making the change.”
“Increased income a bit, but more patient load, more patient with lower socioeconomic status and complicated physical and mental health issues.”
“Increased income in general, but not rewarding for long consultations.”
“Some improvement in renumeration, but patients often come in for unnecessary consults. Patients putting less value on doctors.”
“At this stage no [I would not recommend a colleague switch] as I have not found to be better off financially, and I am feeling more pressured in my consultations now and struggling with time management.”
“The bulk billing is good for people on the patient side: they are not under any pressure. Same time, some patients don’t appreciate the fact that government spends money for their visits: they come to their GP for very minor issues.”
“It definitely helped patients follow up and encouraged face-to-face consultations. Increasing GP visits and mild improvement in financial gain.”
“Easier for administration, patients like it, income appears to be up.”
“Breaks down barriers for patients’ financial burden and good incentives for clinic.”
“It has generated more income, and helped engage more patients.”
“Patients don’t need to pay any gaps to the practice hence they are happy while GPs are getting bulk billing incentives so they are happy. It’s a win- win situation, I think!”
“Success rate in recalling patients for follow-up much higher.”
“The clinic is much more busy. Better access for disadvantaged patients.”
“Bulk billing helps people seek medical advice early, therefore will improve general health and prevent deterioration of medical problems.”
“Patients more willing to attend regular chronic disease reviews.”
“It reduced the decision who to charge and who not to charge.”
“Has changed my clientele to a lower socioeconomic cohort. Less concern about cost stress on patients.”
“A benefit to lower socioeconomic groups, less resistance to proper Rx, removal of a stressor from me.”
“Time saving regarding debt collection.”
“Saves administration costs as one of the factors.”
“The 12.5% incentive helped a lot. Get rid of following patients who do not pay the consultation fees.”
“Early days with it, but looks like being worthwhile.”
“I work in two practices – one has transitioned to universal bulk billing and the other has not yet. The income from the non-bulk billing practice is much greater than the other one, even with PIP incentives.”
“We’re having difficulty in charging patients for procedures, and it’s causing a loss to the clinic in terms of consumables cost.”
“I don’t feel valued, paid so much to enhance skill sets. I am worried that younger doctors see no future in GP land. It’s kind of depressing.”
“The income is not covering the cost of running clinic – working more time for less money.”
“Still very hard to manage all expenses related to running a practice.”
“Patients are attending the clinic who have never come before and displacing my regular patient clientele.”
“Patients started using bulk billing clinics as urgent care clinics. Many sticking to their private billing GPs as regular GPs and coming to us for procedures and repeat scripts.”
“We are a new practice, and it is so difficult to get the clinical software set up to successfully bulk bill. So it’s been almost one month since we started, and our income is almost zero unless we charge privately. The government should make it easy for new practices to bulk bill.”
These comments were free text responses from GPs in Healthed’s 28 April webcast survey.
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