The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released new data showing half of Australians paid contributions toward non-hospital Medicare services.

Sixty-six per cent of Australians have all of their medical costs bulk billed by their GP, with a total of 86 per cent of GP services bulk billed.

The AIHW data showed that across 2015-2016, nearly 3000 hospitalisations per 100,000 people across Brisbane’s north and south regions were potentially preventable.

The further afield, the AIHW data showed, the less patients paid out-of-pocket with only 38 per cent of remote and very remote Queenslanders paying out-of-pocket on an average charge of $97.

AIHW spokesman Michael Frost said many factors could influence out-of-pocket costs, and the new data provided insights into how Australians use health services, as well as identifying barriers to access.

“These can include the types of services the patient requires, the availability of bulk-billing and the cost of services in their area,’ Mr Frost said.

Nationally the average out-of-pocket costs for patients was $142, with the highest 10 per cent of patients paying almost $900.

On average 7 per cent of people aged 15 and over surveyed said the cost of services meant they did not go to a doctor or specialist when they needed them, with that percentage ranging from 4 per cent to 11 per cent across different regions.

Eight per cent of Brisbane South residents either delayed or did not see a specialist, doctor or get medical screening because of the cost, while in the Darling Downs that figure was down to 7 per cent.

For people seeing specialists, more than seven in 10 patients had out-of-pocket costs at an average of $64.

Nationally, inner suburbs of Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra had some of the highest out-of-pocket costs, while remote and very remote patients paid less.