Cornerstone Health welcomes the Albanese Government’s commitment to universal primary healthcare

Cornerstone Health's purpose has always been to increase access to quality primary health care for all Australians. We believe that access to free primary care through your General Practitioner, with the presentation of a Medicare card, if a fundamental right of all Australians.

Today's announcement that the Federal Government will triple the bulk billing incentive for every Australian is the highest level of commitment we've seen to universal primary healthcare since Medicare was established. Additionally, the 12.5% Medicare loading payment for fully bulk billing practices is the single biggest funding reform for the primary care sector in 40 years, recognising the much-needed action to properly fund bulk billed access to your GP.

Cornerstone Health's CEO, Henry Bateman has commented on today's announcement:

"The tripling of the bulk billing incentive for every Australian by the Albanese Government will dramatically increase access to bulk billed GPs in the immediate term.

"Critically, this $8.5 billion investment from the Labor Government demonstrates to Australian medical students that the Federal Government truly values primary healthcare, encouraging more medical graduates to specialise in general practice and ensuring participation in the speciality for generations to come.

"This announcement also provides certainty to enable long term investment in General Practice. For bulk billing medical centres such as Our Medical we can now open new centres in areas of high population growth such as Morayfield in South-East Queensland, knowing that we'll be supported by the Federal Government to provide access to quality primary healthcare."

"The Albanese Government's courage and conviction to rise to the challenge and do the right thing by all Australians by investing in General Practice will be looked back on as a pivotal moment in the ensuring the health care of us all.

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For More Information

Henry Bateman, CEO, Cornerstone Health is available for a phone interview or interview at one of our medical centres in Sydney. Interviews with GPs in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne may also be arranged. Please call Katie White 0498 078 949 to organise.

About Cornerstone Health

Cornerstone Health's purpose is to increase access to quality healthcare for all Australians. Our contemporary medical centres offer a full range of primary healthcare services under one roof, open until 10pm every day. All GP consultations are Medicare bulk billed. Our network of large-scale medical centres spans fast growing locations around Greater Sydney, Greater Melbourne, Greater Brisbane and on the Gold Coast. See more: https://www.cornerstonehealth.com.au/healthcare-services/our-medical