Healthed’s August survey has helped spark a national conversation about Medicare rebates.

An exclusive survey by Healthed on the effects of financial stress in general practice gained national attention last week, but will it be enough?

Healthed’s survey data revealed that almost a quarter of GPs (22%) have switched from bulk billing to mixed or private billing (up from 10% last year). It will come as no surprise to you, rising costs were the main reason for the change.

To our knowledge, this is the only dataset available that examines what proportion of GPs have changed their billing model recently.

Healthed broke the story last week and was almost immediately contacted with requests from reporters at SBS and the ABC who wanted to access the full report.

This snowballed into national coverage from multiple media outlets.

The Guardian’s story: GPs ditching bulk billing as costs rise and Medicare rebates lag, survey shows

SBS coverage: ‘A failing business model’: GPs called for urgent action

ABC’s story: GPs move away from bulk billing as costs rise and Medicare rebate lags

SMH’s story: Vulnerable patients asked to cough up as more GPs shun bulk billing

RACGP media release: Free falling bulk-billing rates a sign of things to come

Junkee’s story: Doctors Warn Medicare Is On The Brink Of Collapse As More GPs Stop Bulk Billing

Magnet’s story: Bulk billing: GPs blame low Medicare rebates for changes to billing models

Mirage News’s story: RACGP: Free falling bulk-billing rates sign of things to come

North Western Star’s story: Bulk billing: GPs blame low Medicare rebates for changes to billing models

Moree Champion’s story: Bulk billing: GPs blame low Medicare rebates for changes to billing models

The 477 GPs that participated in this survey have helped ignite a national conversation around Medicare rebates.

We hope you continue to participate in our surveys. Please let us know if there are any questions you would like us to ask.