Fed: Patterson defends declining bulk-billing rates
Health Minister KAY PATTERSON has defended declining bulk-billing rates, saying three-quartersof GP visits are still free for patients.
Health Insurance Commission figures for the June quarter show the number of GP visitsbulk-billed was 73.9 per cent, down 0.6 of a per cent from the previous quarter.
For all services, the rate of bulk-billing was 69.9 per cent.
Opposition health spokesman STEPHEN SMITH says the quarterly bulk-billing rate hasfallen 3.1 per cent from a year ago.
But Senator PATTERSON says she's heartened that many doctors continue to bulk-billolder patients.
The commission's figures show the GP bulk-billing rate for people over 65 is 82.3 per cent.
Australian Medical Association president KERRYN PHELPS says the figures are furtherproof the government needs to step in to increase Medicare patient rebates.
AAP RTV so/daw/smb/rp/rt
KEYWORD: BULKBILL (CANBERRA)
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