Almost four out of five (78%) GPs work at a practice that privately charges at least some of its patients, with the average reported out-of-pocket cost for a Level B (MBS item 23) consultation $38.80.3
Average patient out-of-pocket costs for all GP non-referred attendances have increased by 49% over the past decade and are now a greater amount than the patient rebate for MBS item 23, the most common general practice item. Over the same period, the patient rebate for MBS item 23 has increased by 11%. (Figure 35)
This means a patient attending their GP in 2012 paid an average of $27.65 out of pocket while the Federal Government contributed $34.90 (for MBS item 23). In 2021, that patient would pay $41.12 on average while the Federal Government contributed $38.75 for MBS item 23.(Figure 34)
Average out-of-pocket costs vary across Australia, with patients in remote and very remote communities experiencing higher out-of-pocket costs than in other areas.1