FINDING a doctor in Logan who fully bulk bills could become twice as easy by the end of the year.
Currently, around one in four local general practitioners (GPs) bulk bill all patients regardless of concessions.
But, according to an independent analysis by health directory Cleanbill, that number will jump to one in two GPs once a new incentive scheme takes effect in November.
The federal government says its $8.5 billion boost to Medicare will mean 90% of GP visits will be bulk-billed by 2030.
While Cleanbill’s analysis wasn’t as confident, it did predict a jump in Logan’s bulk-billing rates as early as 1 November.
In the electorate of Wright, the new incentive scheme could see around 71% of GPs transition to fully bulk billed.
In Rankin, it is predicted 35% will bulk bill, and in Forde, almost 45% will bulk bill.
Across all these GPs, the average cost for a standard consultation (including the Medicare rebate of around $41) is currently $77 – almost $10 cheaper than the state and national averages.
But from November, the total Medicare payment will increase to $80.71.
Cleanbill claims it will, therefore, make “economic sense” for the average clinic in Logan to switch to bulk billing.
Directory founder James Gillespie said GP appointments in the Logan federal electorates were already among the cheapest in Australia.
The average costs are $76.12 in Forde, $77.23 in Rankin, and $77.97 in Wright.
“They are three of the four electorates in Queensland where the total cost for a standard consultation is below $80, which is quite rare. Even in a national context, that is quite rare,” Mr Gillespie said.
“So it is unsurprising to see these higher numbers of fully bulk-billing clinics from November 2025… because there will be a lot of clinics in those areas that are currently not charging a huge amount out of pocket.
“And as a result of this change, they will be able to switch from charging the out-of-pocket amount, to just accepting the new total Medicare payment instead.”
However, if the economic impact of the incentive scheme was between 20-30% higher, almost every GP in Logan would likely bulk bill all patients, according to Cleanbill.
Mr Gillespie said different clinics would juggle the economic factors – such as the potential influx of new patients – differently.
“Clinics will be making these economic decisions for themselves based on their own circumstances.”
