Specialists to disclose fees amid bulk-billing rise

Medical specialists could soon be required to disclose their fees on a national database, as bulk-billing figures show the number of Australians getting free doctor appointments is on the rise.

Legislation expected to go before parliament this week would force all specialists to sign up to the Medical Costs Finder website - imposing new levels of transparency on doctors and allowing patients to compare costs.

The database was originally set up by the Liberal Morrison government on an opt-in basis, meaning the vast majority of specialist doctors have chosen not to publicly share their fees.

The bill will also outlaw "phoenixing" - a practice in private health insurance where a provider shuts down an existing policy plan, only to create a very similar one that costs more.

Health Minister Mark Butler described specialist fees as the "barbecue stopper" in Australian healthcare, but conceded it would be difficult to achieve results.

"What we do see among specialists is a huge variability in the out-of-pocket costs that people are being charged," he told ABC TV on Wednesday.

"We wanted them voluntarily to publish those fees, and they just refuse to do so. So I'm going to do it for them," Mr Butler said.

The policy pledge comes after the release of data showing bulk-billing rates increasing across the nation, on the back of new federal government incentives.

More than 3400 GP practices are now offering bulk-billed appointments, with nearly 1300 of those previously classed as mixed-billing.

The bulk-billing rate across Australia has jumped to 81.4 per cent - the biggest quarterly increase in two decades, outside of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr Butler said more must be done, but the figures showed access to healthcare "heading in the right direction".

Since November 2025, GPs receive financial incentives for every patient they bulk-bill, along with extra payments for being fully bulk-billing.

"It's early days. This is something we think will take a few years to get to the target we want to see it at, but really promising signs in just the first three months," Mr Butler said.