Patients in Hume are benefiting from the Turnbull Government’s commitment to Medicare, with the electorate’s bulk billing rate even higher than the record September quarter national rate of 85.9 per cent.

 

Federal Member for Hume Angus Taylor said the September 2017-18 quarter bulk billing rate for Hume was 89.1 per cent – a full percentage point higher than for the same period last year.

 

It’s also higher than the national average - and significantly higher than Labor’s 82.2% when they were last in government.

 

“It’s great news for residents in Hume as it means more people are able to visit the doctor without having to reach for their wallets,” Mr Taylor said.

 

“And we’re spending more than ever before on Medicare – with record funding increasing each and every year from $23 billion in 2017-18, to $24 billion, to $26 billion to $28 billion in 2020-21.

 

“Spending under Labor was $19.5 billion in 2012-13.

 

 

Last financial year, Australian patients received an additional 21 million bulk billed GP visits compared with Labor’s last year in Government in 2012-13 – an increase of more than 20 per cent.

 

“In this year’s Budget, we established the Medicare Guarantee Fund to secure the ongoing funding of the Medicare Benefits Schedule and the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme – to guarantee Australians’ access to these services and affordable medicines into the future,” Mr Taylor said.

 

“Our commitment to Medicare is rock solid and these figures show that under the Turnbull Government, Medicare is providing more support to Australians than ever before.”