Date: 3 March 2026
More than 15 million Australians live with complex chronic disease. To effectively manage their conditions these Australians require more time with their specialist GP, more often.
We acknowledge the current Federal Government’s commitment to increase access to bulk billed care. But not every long consultation with a specialist GP can be bulk billed.
The only way to reduce out of pocket costs for patients who can’t be bulk billed is to increase the Medicare rebate patients receive for longer consults.
That’s why the RACGP – alongside 20 other patient and healthcare organisations – is calling on the Government to increase patient Medicare rebates for longer consultations by 40%.
Read the submission
An open letter to Australia’s Parliamentarians on supporting people living with chronic diseases (PDF)