Local Government Areas with 10 highest and lowest out-of-pocket costs for GP attendances between 2019 and 2023
Across the 5 years, the 10 Local Government Areas (LGAs, see Technical notes for details) with the highest average out-of-pocket costs for a non-bulk billed GP attendance were mainly in New South Wales, Queensland, Western Australia and the Northern Territory (Figure 10). All socioeconomic areas were represented in the 10 highest average out-of-pocket costs, reflecting the socioeconomic diversity within some LGAs. The lowest socioeconomic (SEIFA quintile 1) and highest socioeconomic (quintile 5) areas occurred frequently in the highest 10 results. Murweh – a lower socioeconomic (quintile 2) area and a Very remote area in Queensland – was in the highest 10 list throughout the whole period.
The 10 LGAs with the lowest average out-of-pocket costs for GP attendances were mostly located in South Australia, followed by New South Wales. All socioeconomic areas were represented in the lowest 10 out-of-pocket costs, with the lowest socioeconomic (quintile 1) areas being more frequent than other socioeconomic areas. Salisbury – located in the lowest socioeconomic (quintile 1) area and in Major cities in South Australia – remained in the lowest 10 list for the 5 successive years.
