Data shows decline in NT bulk-billing, sparking concerns for impacts on hospital system | ABC News

The Northern Territory has experienced the steepest decline in bulk-billing rates of anywhere in the country in the past year, according to new data. Bulk-billed doctor visits - where a federal government rebate covers the full cost of the appointment, leaving no out-of-pocket cost for the patient - have been rapidly declining across Australia in recent years. Online GP directory Cleanbill, which collects information on pricing and the availability of healthcare across Australia, looked at 6,925 clinics nation-wide between October 2024 and January 2025 and found just 20.5 per cent now offer bulk-billed appointments. In the NT, Cleanbill contacted 44 clinics and found just 9.5 per cent offer bulk-billing to all patients - a figure the company said marked a decrease of 10 per cent on the year prior, and the largest decline of any state or territory. The directory's data also shows the average out-of-pocket cost to see a doctor in the NT ($43.86) is the fourth highest in Australia, behind Tasmania ($54.26), the ACT ($51.84), and NSW ($44.05), and is marginally above the national average ($43.38).
By Olivana Lathouris for ABC News Northern Territory
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