Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program
The Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (DoHDA) is introducing a new Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) to strengthen Medicare and improve access to healthcare for all Australians. This program will commence on 1 November 2025, and aims to support general practices in providing bulk-billed services to a broader range of patients.
What's changing?
The program consists of two key components:
Expanded eligibility for bulk billing incentives
From 1 November 2025, all eligible Medicare patients will qualify for bulk billing incentives, ensuring greater access to affordable healthcare.
Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program
Participating practices can receive an additional 12.5% incentive payment for every dollar of Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) revenue earned from eligible services.
Why are these changes important?
The expansion of bulk billing incentives is designed to support GPs and general practices to continue to bulk bill patients, particularly in regional, rural, and remote communities. The incentive payments will be scaled based on location, with higher payments allocated to practices in areas classified under the Modified Monash Model (MMM).
How will the program work?
- Practices that participate in the BBPIP must bulk bill all eligible services for every patient to receive the incentive payment.
- Incentive payments will be distributed between the GP and the practice, ensuring financial sustainability for bulk billing services.
- Registration for the program will be available from 1 November 2025, with practices required to register via MyMedicare.
What does this mean for patients and practitioners?
For practitioners, it provides financial support to continue offering bulk billing, ensuring sustainable healthcare delivery across Australia. For patients, this program promises greater access to bulk-billed services, reducing out-of-pocket costs.
As the launch date approaches, general practices are encouraged to assess the financial impact of these changes and consider how they can best integrate the new incentives into their billing policies.
