GPs pushing for Medicare rebate increase

GPs are pushing for a $16 increase in the Medicare rebate to cover the cost of longer consultations and reverse the decline in bulk billing. Doctors will also push for taxpayers to fund $75 million worth of incentives to attract more medical graduates to choose a career in primary care. Only 13 per cent of graduates are choosing to become GPs. This is down from 40 per cent in 2004. The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners says it’s partly because doctors training in hospital get paid maternity leave while GP trainees don't.