The Strathalbyn Medical Centre has become the latest medical practice to advise that they will no longer be offering bulk billing to most patients.

In a post made to social media today, clinic management said that as of August 14 pensioners and health care card holders will be charged a $20 gap for consultations.

The post says, “When a patient is bulk billed, the fee received by the practice is effectively a 33% discount on the standard private fee.”

“However, over the last 8 years the Government Medicare bulk bill fee has barely changed, and it has become financially unsustainable to continue to Bulk Bill when practice costs are continuing to increase by more than 5% per year.”

“It is our aim to continue to provide a high-quality service with excellent administration and nursing Staff support to both our doctors and clients and so a gap payment is necessary to maintain this service.”

The post comes just days after the Christies Beach Medical Centre also instituted a $20 fee for most patients.

Dr Danny Byrne the Chair of the Royal College of General Practitioners (RACGP) says GPs are facing increasing costs, but that the Medicare rebate was only increased by 1.6% this year – well below the current 6.1% rate of inflation.

He told ABC Radio Adelaide this week that the Federal government needs to take action, with fewer medical students opting for general practice due to the growing disparity of incomes between GPs and specialists.

He said this would lead to further GP shortages in the future. 

RACGP research says 50% of GPs are aged over 50 and that half of all GPs are concerned about the long-term viability of their practices.