How new Medicare bulk billing changes affect you and your family
Over the past year, the Australian Government has announced significant changes to how Medicare works for general practice. If you’ve heard about “bulk billing reforms” and “MyMedicare” but aren’t quite sure what it all means, you’re not alone.
At Queen Street Medical Centre, we believe in making your health care experience as clear, fair, and caring as possible. This article explains what’s changing, why it’s happening, and how we’re responding — all with your care and our staff’s safety at heart.
At Queen Street Medical Centre, we believe in making your health care experience as clear, fair, and caring as possible. This article explains what’s changing, why it’s happening, and how we’re responding — all with your care and our staff’s safety at heart.
What Is Bulk Billing — and what’s changing?
Bulk billing is when your GP bills Medicare directly for your consultation, so you don’t have to pay anything out of pocket. In the past, this has mostly applied to children, pensioners, and concession card holders.
From 1 November 2025, new government incentives will allow practices like ours to bulk bill all Medicare-eligible patients, regardless of their age or concession status. In exchange, practices that commit to bulk billing everyone will receive increased Medicare payments per consultation — particularly in rural areas like Moruya.
This change is designed to:
- Make health care more affordable for more Australians- Encourage more clinics to bulk bill- Improve access to care, especially in regional and rural communities.
From 1 November 2025, new government incentives will allow practices like ours to bulk bill all Medicare-eligible patients, regardless of their age or concession status. In exchange, practices that commit to bulk billing everyone will receive increased Medicare payments per consultation — particularly in rural areas like Moruya.
This change is designed to:
- Make health care more affordable for more Australians- Encourage more clinics to bulk bill- Improve access to care, especially in regional and rural communities.
What this means for you
At Queen Street Medical Centre, we’ve always aimed to balance accessibility and sustainability. We know that:
- Families are doing it tough with cost-of-living pressures- Good health care shouldn’t be something you have to put off- Continuity of care with a trusted GP is vital.
We also know that decisions like these impact our team — the nurses, doctors, and admin staff who care for you every day.
That’s why we’ve decided to take up the government’s full bulk billing option.
From November, this means:
- No out-of-pocket costs for any standard GP consultation- You’ll still see the same doctors and nurses- You’ll still get high-quality, personalised care.
- Families are doing it tough with cost-of-living pressures- Good health care shouldn’t be something you have to put off- Continuity of care with a trusted GP is vital.
We also know that decisions like these impact our team — the nurses, doctors, and admin staff who care for you every day.
That’s why we’ve decided to take up the government’s full bulk billing option.
From November, this means:
- No out-of-pocket costs for any standard GP consultation- You’ll still see the same doctors and nurses- You’ll still get high-quality, personalised care.
Why we’re making this choice
This change isn’t just about money — it’s about values.
We believe that everyone in our community should have access to care when they need it, without having to weigh up whether they can afford it.
But we also believe that safe, sustainable health care means:
- Respecting the limits and wellbeing of our team - Planning carefully for increased patient demand- Keeping our doors open and viable for the long term.
We’ve reviewed the new system, modelled the changes, and spoken to our team. With the new Medicare support, we believe we can continue to deliver accessible care without compromising safety or quality.
We believe that everyone in our community should have access to care when they need it, without having to weigh up whether they can afford it.
But we also believe that safe, sustainable health care means:
- Respecting the limits and wellbeing of our team - Planning carefully for increased patient demand- Keeping our doors open and viable for the long term.
We’ve reviewed the new system, modelled the changes, and spoken to our team. With the new Medicare support, we believe we can continue to deliver accessible care without compromising safety or quality.
What we ask of you
As we move into this new system, we ask for your understanding:
- Appointments may become busier — we’ll always do our best to see you when you need us, but demand may increase.
- Be kind to our reception team — they work hard to support everyone and deserve to feel safe and respected.
- Let us know if your needs change — the better we understand your situation, the better we can care for you.
We’ll keep you updated on any changes to appointment availability, booking processes, and how MyMedicare registration may help link you more directly to your GP.
Our commitment to you
We’re proud to serve the Moruya community, and we take seriously the trust you place in us.
These Medicare changes offer a chance to improve access for all — and we’re embracing that opportunity in a way that supports both our patients and our team.
If you have any questions, please ask us. We’re here to help.
With thanks,
These Medicare changes offer a chance to improve access for all — and we’re embracing that opportunity in a way that supports both our patients and our team.
If you have any questions, please ask us. We’re here to help.
With thanks,
Dr Neil Starmer
Practice Principal
Queen Street Medical Centre
Moruya
Practice Principal
Queen Street Medical Centre
Moruya
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