2005 Medicare data by electorate
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/ministers/publishing.nsf/Content/health-mediarel-yr2006-ta-abb027.htm
Tony Abbott Press Release, 9 March 2006, ABB027/06
Bulk billing rates increased in 96 per cent of Australia’s federal
electorates from 2004 to 2005 as a result of Howard Government
initiatives to strengthen Medicare.
Of the 150 electorates:
* 144 showed an increase in bulk billing between 2004 and 2005.
* two, Chifley (VIC) and Melbourne, showed no change
* four showed a slight decrease
* in 2005, the highest bulk billing rate was 98.3 per cent in
Chifley (NSW)
* in 2005, a total of 58 electorates had bulk-billing rates of over
75 per cent, and of these 14 electorates had bulk billing rates of over
90 per cent, compared with 11 in 2004
* Fraser and Canberra in the ACT were the only electorates with
bulk billing below 50 per cent.
Bulk billing rates for non-referred GP attendances were generally higher
in electorates of lower socio-economic status. The national average bulk
billing rate for non-referred GP attendances in 2005 was 74.7 per cent.
The latest figures from the December quarter show the current rate is
75.1 per cent.
In 2005, the first full calendar year of operation of the Medicare
safety net, more than 4 million families registered, and nearly 2
million qualified to receive safety net benefits.
Benefits received under the safety net were highest in electorates where
people spend more on their health care. In 2005, more than $280 million
was spent through the safety net helping almost 1.25 million people with
higher Medicare rebates.
These reports confirm that Australians are benefiting from the
government’s measures to increase access to high quality affordable
health care through the $4 billion ‘Strengthening Medicare’ package.
The full reports are available on the Department of Health and Ageing
web site at www.health.gov.au/electoratereports.
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