Trends over time
In 2024–25, there were around 257.0 million non-hospital Medicare-subsidised GP, allied health and specialist health care services in Australia. Two-thirds of services were GP attendances. This was largely unchanged between 2017–18 and 2024–25.
Figure 1 presents the proportion of Australians that had at least one Medicare-subsidised service for each category.
Between 2017–18 and 2024–25:
- More than 8 in 10 Australians had at least one Medicare-subsidised GP attendance. Each year between 2017–18 and 2019–20, this proportion was 88%, but this decreased to 85% in 2020–21 coinciding with the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance increased to 90% in 2021–22, coinciding with the expansion and uptake of Medicare-subsidised telehealth and the availability of COVID-19 vaccinations. By 2023–24, this proportion had decreased to 84% and was 84% again in 2024–25.
- 4 in 10 Australians had at least one Medicare-subsidised diagnostic imaging service or allied health service.
- 1 in 3 Australians had at least one Medicare-subsidised specialist attendance.
- 6.4% to 8.3% of Australians had at least on Medicare-subsidised Nursing and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker service (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Proportion (%) of people who had at least one non-hospital Medicare-subsidised service, by category, 2017–18 to 2024–25
Line chart shows that the proportion of people who received various non-hospital Medicare-subsidised services remained relatively steady for most categories between 2017–18 and 2024–25.
| Year | GP attendances | Diagnostic imaging services | Allied health services | Specialist attendances | Nursing and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 87.9% | 38.2% | 36.7% | 31% | 6.4% |
| 2018–19 | 88% | 38.4% | 37.5% | 31.2% | 7.2% |
| 2019–20 | 87.6% | 37.2% | 35.8% | 30.8% | 7.8% |
| 2020–21 | 85.2% | 39% | 38.7% | 31.7% | 8.3% |
| 2021–22 | 90% | 38% | 37.2% | 31.5% | 8% |
| 2022–23 | 86% | 39% | 38.9% | 31.7% | 8% |
| 2023–24 | 84.4% | 39% | 38.8% | 31.6% | 6.9% |
| 2024–25 | 83.8% | 39.4% | 39.1% | 31.6% | 8% |
Source:
AIHW analysis of Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data collection, Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population.
Between 2017–18 and 2024–25, the rate of Medicare-subsidised:
- GP attendances increased each year between 2017–18 and 2021–22 (about 627 per 100 people to 736 per 100), before decreasing to 615 per 100 people in 2024–25.
- Diagnostic imaging services fluctuated between 99 and 110 services per 100 people.
- Allied health services fluctuated between 92 and 104 services per 100 people.
- Specialist attendances peaked in 2020–21 (103 per 100 people) and then decreased in 2024–25 (98 per 100 people).
- Nursing and Aboriginal Health Worker services increased from 13 per 100 people to 19 per 100 people (Figure 2).
Figure 2: Rate of non-hospital Medicare-subsidised services (per 100 people), by category, 2017–18 to 2024–25
Line chart shows that the rate (per 100 people) of GP attendances peaked in 2021–22, before decreasing in 2024–25.
| Year | GP attendances | Diagnostic imaging services | Allied health services | Specialist attendances | Nursing and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health worker services |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017–18 | 627.4 | 101.6 | 92.3 | 95.6 | 12.6 |
| 2018–19 | 632 | 102.6 | 95.9 | 95.6 | 14 |
| 2019–20 | 643.3 | 99.1 | 92.3 | 95.5 | 15.4 |
| 2020–21 | 668.5 | 108.2 | 104.3 | 103.1 | 17 |
| 2021–22 | 736 | 103 | 99.2 | 100.6 | 16.1 |
| 2022–23 | 640.3 | 106.7 | 102.6 | 98.5 | 16.6 |
| 2023–24 | 614.3 | 107.5 | 100.5 | 98 | 15.9 |
| 2024–25 | 614.8 | 110.2 | 102.9 | 98.4 | 18.7 |
Source:
AIHW analysis of Department of Health, Disability and Ageing's Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) data collection, Australian Bureau of Statistics Estimated Resident Population.
There are many potential reasons for changes in rates of GP services over time, including:
- the inclusion and cessation of additional telehealth and COVID‑19 vaccination MBS items provided in response to the pandemic
- differing access to appropriate and affordable care for vulnerable population groups
- the availability of bulk billing to patients, such as increased bulk billing incentives for GPs during the COVID‑19 pandemic (Department of Health and Aged Care 2023).
Reference
Department of Health and Aged Care (2023) Building a stronger Medicare – Budget 2023–24, Department of Health and Aged Care, Australian Government, accessed 15 January 2026.