Daily Bulletin

The Times Real Estate

.

  • Written by Lucinda Beaman, Deputy Editor, FactCheck, The Conversation

In relation to this FactCheck on Australia’s bulk-billing rates, The Conversation requested sources and comment from Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Labor leader Bill Shorten to support their conflicting statements about bulk-billing rates.

Full response from Bill Shorten’s office

In response to the request, a spokesperson for Bill Shorten pointed The Conversation to Medicare statistics for the 2016 September quarter.

The spokesperson added:

The Government’s figures show that from June to September 2016 the bulk-billing rate for non-referred attendances fell from 84.6% to 84.1%.

Through an information request through the Parliamentary Budget Office, we know that for item 23(a) – a standard GP consultation – we also know the bulk-billing rate is falling: from 82.81% in April 2016 to 82.38% in May 2016 to 81.97% in June 2016. This trend continues as is reflected in the rate falling for all non-referred attendances from June to September.

There has also been reports of many doctors changing their bulk-billing practices after 1 July “when they knew the Turnbull government had been re-elected and the freeze would continue”. This freeze is in place until July 2020.

Full response from Malcolm Turnbull’s office

Questions from The Conversation in bold:

Could you please provide a source (or sources) to support the assertion that bulk-billing rates are at record levels?

The headline bulk-billing rate of 85.1% for GP services is the official bulk-billing figure for 2015-16.

This is the highest bulk-billing rate for GP services since 1984-85 (when Medicare started) – ie: record levels.

The headline bulk-billing rate of 78.2% for all Medicare services is the official bulk-billing figure for 2015-16. This is the highest bulk-billing rate for Total Medicare services since 1984-85 (when Medicare started) ie: again, record levels.

Source: Annual Medicare Statistics: 2015-16 (latest available) Table 1.4a.

Was the prime minister referring to any specific type of bulk-billing, for example GP bulk-billing? Or overall bulk-billing rates?

Both the GP bulk-billing rate and the bulk-billing rate for all Medicare services are at record levels.

Is there any other comment you’d like us to include?

No, except to note that the bulk-billing rate has been reported on a consistent basis under all governments since 1984-85.

Authors: Lucinda Beaman, Deputy Editor, FactCheck, The Conversation

Read more http://theconversation.com/full-responses-from-malcolm-turnbull-and-bill-shorten-72407

Business News

Ladder Safety 101: How to Use Your Ladder Properly

(Source) Using a ladder is not rocket science. It is simple and easy to do, but if not used the right way, it can result in serious injuries. Ladder safety is something that you should never ignore, ...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Avoiding Common Mistakes When Installing Warehouse Pallet Racking

(Source) Let’s face it: warehouse pallet racking is the unsung hero of any efficient storage system. It’s the backbone of your operations, the silent organiser that maintains your stock reachable, yo...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

Concrete vs Steel Sleepers - Which is Better for Your Home?

When it comes to house planning, every detail matters, right from the sleeper material you opt for landscaping or construction purposes. Concrete and steel sleepers are two of the most popular ones...

Daily Bulletin - avatar Daily Bulletin

LayBy Deals