Making Medicare Stronger

The Albanese Government is making it easier to see a bulk billing GP. After nine years of cuts and neglect by the former Liberal National government, I know that it had never been harder or more expensive to see a GP.

That’s why we tripled the bulk billing incentive – the largest ever increase in Medicare’s 40-year history.  That means more GPs bulk billing, which is helping over 5 million children and their families and more than 7 million pensions and concession card holders to see a GP.

Our Government has invested $2.8 billion to strengthen Medicare with more Medicare Urgent Care Clinics, more free mental health services, higher rebates for many common medical tests, investments in women’s health, increasing the number of Medicare MRI machines, higher rebates for nuclear medicine imaging, and supporting the Royal Flying Doctor Service to continue delivering health and dental services across outback Australia.

I know there’s still a lot of work to do to build Medicare back stronger, and I’m dedicated to making healthcare more affordable for you and your family to get the care you need in our community.

Making Medicine Cheaper

Thanks to the Albanese Labor Government, Australians have saved over half a billion dollars on the cost of their medicines, including $118 million saved by Victorians. We introduced the largest cut to the maximum patient copayment in the 75-year history of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).

We’ve also introduced 60-day prescriptions for around 300 medicines, saving you money and reducing how often you need to visit your doctor, optometrist, and pharmacist. That includes medicines for glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, anxiety disorders, asthma, constipation, dry eyes, and acne.

For Australians with cardiac disease, the PBS now includes Tafamidis and Mavacamten, which without subsidy would cost patients $122,000 and $30,000 a year respectively, but now is only $31.60, or $7.70 for pensioners and concession card holders.

We’ve also committed an additional $3 billion to strengthen community pharmacies, alongside new rules requiring more than 2,900 brands of common medicines to now hold a minimum of four months’ worth of stock on shore in Australia.

A Healthier Australia

The best healthcare is preventative healthcare. That’s why the Albanese Labor Government has provided $25.3 million to prevent skin cancer, with the development of a national roadmap to better skin cancer outcomes.

In addition, we’ve given $38.8 million to continue funding the free National Bowel Cancer Screening Program, with the age for free screenings lowered from 50 to 45, $43.9 million to work towards eliminating HIV transmission in Australia by 2030, and $132.7 million to boost grassroots community and school sports.

Women’s Health

The last Liberal government let Australian women down. The Albanese Labor Government has made women’s health a focus of our government, with $49.1 million in Medicare rebates to see a gynaecologist for complex conditions like endometriosis and $56.5 million for new Medicare services for midwives to provider longer consultations before and after the birth of a child.

This is alongside the additional funding to Medicare services, additional bulk billing doctors, and pharmacists in Victoria providing treatment for uncomplicated urinary tract infections and resupplies of contraceptive pills without needing to see a GP.

Easier Access to Mental Health Services

We’ve committed to $361 million over four years to expand the range of free mental health services, including a new national early intervention service for Australians to access support before their distress escalates to needing higher intensity services.

We’re also providing free mental health care services through 61 walk-in Medicare Mental Health Centres, with each centre upgraded to have psychiatrists, psychologists and GPs on call.

In partnership with GPs, we’re also funding Primary Health Networks, which will bring on mental health nurses and other allied health support to provide free care coordination and support to patients with complex mental health needs, in between GP and specialist appointments.