Patterns in GP bulk billing rates by remoteness

Information about remoteness is summarised in this report by Australian Statistical Geography Standard (ASGS) for Remoteness Areas (RA).

For more detail, see Technical notes.

Within each remoteness area, the pattern of GP bulk billing rates was broadly similar to the overall trend in the national GP bulk billing rate over time (Figure 1). Since 2002, the annual GP bulk billing rate for Very remote areas has been higher than that for Major cities (Figure 4).

The GP bulk billing rates decreased in all remoteness areas after peaking in 2020–2021. The GP bulk billing rate in Very remote areas has not decreased as much as other remoteness areas.

During the first 10 months of 2024, Very remote areas had a GP bulk billing rate of 88% compared with a rate of 77% in Major cities.

Figure 4: GP bulk billing rates by remoteness for states and territories, 2003 to October 2024

The annual GP bulk billing rate in Major cities changed from 73% in 2003 to 77% in the first 10 months of 2024, from 50% to 79% in Inner regional areas, from 57% to 79% in Outer regional areas, from 66% to 79% in Remote areas and from 80% to 88% in Very remote areas.

The annual GP bulk billing rate in Major cities changed from 73% in 2003 to 77% in the first 10 months of 2024, from 50% to 79% in Inner regional areas, from 57% to 79% in Outer regional areas, from 66% to 79% in Remote areas and from 80% to 88% in Very remote areas.
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