澳大利亚政府推行的Medicare激励计划正推动越来越多诊所改革计费模式。截至2026年6月，全国免费挂号率（bulk-billing rate）达到84.1%，相比去年同期上升近4个百分点[1]。自2025年11月激励计划启动以来，免费挂号率累计增长7个百分点[1]。超过1400家诊所已从混合计费转为完全免费模式[1]。
政府投入了8.5亿澳元支持这一政策[1]，目标是到2030年实现90%的GP挂号免费[1]。根据部门建模，6600家诊所中约4800家（占73%）转为免费计费后会获得更好的经营状况[1]。为鼓励诊所参与，全额免费计费的诊所每个季度可获得其Medicare计费额的12.5%的额外补助[1]。标准城市地区的GP挂号费用约为63.50澳元[1]。
各州增长不均衡。北领地增幅最大，达到13个百分点，目前免费挂号率为90.8%[1]；新南威尔士州和维多利亚州在6月季度的免费挂号率分别为87.5%和85.7%[1]；澳大利亚首都特区的免费挂号率最低，仅为59.3%[1]。特别地，16至64岁患者的免费挂号率同比上升8.2个百分点[1]。
卫生部长马克·巴特勒表示，"越来越多的GP诊所正转变为全额免费计费诊所，这意味着患者只需要携带Medicare卡，而不是信用卡"[1]。不过，澳大利亚全科医学皇家学院主席迈克尔·赖特医生指出，政府建模表明激励措施"永远无法覆盖所有诊所的成本"[1]。
Australia's Medicare incentive scheme is driving a significant expansion in free general practitioner visits across the country. As of June 2026, the national bulk-billing rate—the proportion of GP consultations billed entirely to Medicare—reached 84.1%, marking an increase of nearly 4 percentage points compared to the same quarter the previous year.[1] More than 1,400 medical practices have transitioned from mixed-fee models to fully free consultations since the incentive program launched in November 2025.[1]
The government's $8.5 billion policy initiative aims to achieve a target of 90% bulk-billing coverage for all GP appointments by 2030.[1] Performance across regions has been uneven, with the Northern Territory recording the largest improvement of 13 percentage points to reach 90.8%,[1] while New South Wales and Victoria achieved rates of 87.5% and 85.7% respectively in the June quarter.[1] The Australian Capital Territory lags at 59.3%.[1] The bulk-billing rate among patients aged 16 to 64 improved by 8.2 percentage points year-on-year,[1] and overall growth since the scheme's introduction stands at 7 percentage points.[1]
Health Minister Mark Butler emphasized the initiative's patient-centered benefits, stating that "more and more GP practices are becoming fully bulk-billing clinics meaning all patients need is their Medicare card, not their credit card".[1] Government modelling suggests that 4,800 of approximately 6,600 medical practices—representing 73%—would be financially better positioned after transitioning to free consultations.[1] Fully bulk-billing clinics receive additional quarterly payments equivalent to 12.5% of their Medicare billing.[1] However, Dr Michael Wright, president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, cautioned that the government's own modelling indicates the incentive measures will never cover the costs for all practices.[1]