Canberrans are paying more to see their doctors,
with the rate of bulk-billing falling a further 2 per cent to 47 per cent, the lowest in Australia.
ACT Health Minister Katy Gallagher said the September quarter figures were almost half NSW rates at 84 per cent.
''I think that is largely attributable to Primary Health Care making a decision to stop bulk-billing particular population groups,'' she said.
When Primary Health Care entered the market, bulk-billing had increased to more than 50 per cent.
Ms Gallagher said the figures were also affected by the GP shortage. More than 70 doctors are needed in to bring the region in line with the national average. ''What it shows is that people are paying more to access GP services, and that isn't an issue in itself. ''If people can afford to pay then that is fine. GPs are private business people, they need to keep their practice growing. Less people are getting bulk-billed and that is an issue if you can't afford the fees up front,'' she said.
But ACT Council of Social Service director Roslyn Dundas said the number of people unable to access health services was growing.
''The last study showed that one in 10 Canberrans were having to make choices about what they were going to spend their money on. Whether it was going to be food, or medical expenses, or rent, or electricity.''
She said the the Federal Government needed to recognise the issue.
''We know these plans are being developed and we have the GP taskforce but we need to action on it because this is just getting worse.''Ms Gallagher said although this issue affected Canberrans, the Federal Government was responsible for legislation on GP training places and allocation.
Federal Health Minister Nicola Roxon said the ACT was allocated an extra four GP training places this year, taking the number to 41.
''The Rudd Government has already taken action by removing the previous government's cap on GP training places, investing $148 million to create new training places and provided more than $41 million to support a general practice prevocational training program,'' Ms Roxon said.
But ACT Australian Medical Association president Paul Jones said bulk-billing would continue to fall.
''The reality is that the medical benefits schemes have just not kept pace with either CPI or average weekly earnings. If you look at the charts going back to 1985 it's relentless [how] the MBS [Medicare Benefits Schedule] has fallen behind.''
He said the association had lobbied the Federal Government for a number of years to include indexation that reflects the cost of practicing.
''What successive governments have been doing is keeping the rebate down and asking patients to make greater contributions from their own pockets,'' he said.
The association recommends a standard doctor's consultation cost $64 and $118 for a longer consultation. ''In the current environment, unless something happens in the MBS, I think bulk-billing will continue to drop.''
ACT Health was unable to provide details about presentations at the emergency department, but said, ''Overall, the lack of accessibility to affordable GP services has been demonstrated to increase presentation to the Emergency Department. We have no data which directly links changes to the local bulk billing rates with presentation to public hospitals.
''However, it is likely that further shortages of GPs and reduced availability to GP services in the ACT will invariably lead to increased pressure on public hospitals.''
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