Almost 12 million Australians will find visiting their doctor less taxing on the household budget as the federal government announced a $3.5 billion (US$2.4 billion) investment into bulk billing.
The largest funding boost in bulk billing is part of the $6.1 billion package into strengthening Medicare and providing middle Australians, not just the most vulnerable, with cost relief.
Treasurer Jim Chalmers told the Parliament that families were forced into a “lose-lose” situation of choosing between getting medical help or paying their bills, leaving many health issues undiagnosed and untreated.
“One of the things that makes this the best country in the world is our shared belief that every Australian should be able to access affordable, reliable healthcare,” he said in the budget speech on Tuesday evening….