General News
13 December, 2025
Bulk Bill Bonus
ARARAT patients are set to benefit from a Federal Government initiative which will see all appointments at the Ararat Medical Centre bulk-billed. The Albanese Government introduced major bulk billing incentives from November 2025, part of an $8.5 billion Medicare investment, paying GPs for every bulk-billed patient, not just children and concession holders.
Doctors will be paid an additional 12.5% extra if they bulk-bill all patients.
The government says its aim is to triple fully bulk-billing practices across Australia, making GP visits free for most people.
Until now, adults not entitled to concessions were paying an additional fee on top of the Medicare rebate at the Ararat Medical Centre.
Partner Dr Faraz Ahmad said his clinic was delighted with the changes.
“There are a couple of things that made us decide we should be bulk billing. The first of them was obviously the increased Medicare rebate and secondly the feedback we were getting from the community was there are cost of living pressures and people are finding it harder to come in and see us at the clinic.
“Obviously we wanted anyone who needed medical assistance to come into the clinic without worrying too much about the gap fee,” he said.
Dr Ahmad said patients are already seeing the benefits.
“Anyone with a valid Medicare card will not have any out of cost expenses,” he said.
Member for Ripon Martha Haylett visited the clinic recently to discuss the changes and said the change is a real win for Ararat residents.
“The Ararat Medical Centre have been providing quality care to our community for over 60 years. They have phenomenal staff, including 13 hard-working doctors.”
“Now thanks to the Albanese Labor Government, they can provide bulkbilling to all Ararat locals, not just those with a concession card.”
“No one should have to check their bank balance to see if they can afford to see a doctor. That is why this announcement is such a game changer,” Ms Haylett said.
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