Bulk billing rates have reached a record high in the March quarter, with 81.2 of HP services being bulk billed.

 

“While bulk billing rates can fluctuate, the Government is pleased to see they have been trending up for some years and are now at record highs,” Health Minister Tanya Plibersek said.

 

Ms Plibersek said in the March quarter bulk billing records were also set for pathology (88%), diagnostic imaging (74.1%), and radiation therapy (54.8%).

 

Ms Plibersek said $4.3 billion was paid out in Medicare benefits in the quarter, up from $3.9 billion in the 2011 March quarter, an increase of 9.8%. This was in respect to 83.1 million services.