Keep Pathology Bulk Billed | Australian Pathology

Pathology is a vital piece of Australia’s health infrastructure:

Since 12 February, Keep Pathology Bulk Billed has been helping Australians have their say about the 24-year funding freeze on vital pathology tests, like blood tests.

The first phase of our advocacy, leading up to the Federal Budget on 14 May 2024, resulted in more than 42,000 emails to Members of Parliament.

This is a monumental testament to the value Australians place on pathology services, Medicare and bulk billing. Australian Pathology is proud to be a part of it.

In this year’s Federal Budget, the government decided to index just under a third of pathology items.

This is a welcome recognition that pathology items need to be indexed. Like everything else, the cost of delivering pathology services has increased over time.

But this is not enough — funding for more than two-thirds of pathology services remains frozen.

Under the arrangements announced in the Budget, the rebates paid by the government for tests that diagnose diabetes and many of your most common tests, like blood cholesterol, will not be indexed. And even for the items that are indexed, the increase does not start until July 2025.

Without full and fair indexation, pathology providers will be forced to make some very difficult decisions.

We ask for your continued support to Keep Pathology Bulk Billed.

Please use the form below to contact your MP and keep this important issue on their radar right up until the next election.

Take action now

Australians have already sent 45,631 emails calling on MPs to help achieve full and fair funding for pathology. Now it’s your turn!

Use the form below to either:

Email a letter to your local MP Call your local MP

You can search for your electorate by either postcode or electorate name. If you’ve already sent an email to your MP, then you can still use the form to find your MP’s phone number.

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After a 24-year funding freeze we acknowledge that the government is indexing some pathology items from 1 July 2025.

The problem is that the funding for more than two-thirds of pathology tests is still frozen.

Under the arrangements announced in the Budget, the rebates paid by the government for tests that diagnose diabetes and many of your most common tests, like blood cholesterol, will not be indexed.

The government’s $174 million commitment in this year’s Federal Budget is a positive step in the right direction, but it is significantly less than the $630 million needed to keep pathology bulk billed.

There is a serious risk of a private gap fee on the pathology services Australians currently receive for free.

With the increased cost of living and the rising cost of seeing a GP, I can’t afford to pay a gap fee for important pathology tests, like blood tests.

My Medicare rebate should be indexed regardless of the pathology test I need.

We need full and fair indexation on pathology tests to keep pathology bulk billed.

I will keep raising this issue with you until the Albanese Government indexes 100% of pathology items.

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Pathology is a vital piece of Australia’s health infrastructure:

In this year’s Federal Budget, the government decided to index just under a third of pathology items.

But this is not enough — funding for more than two-thirds of pathology services remains frozen.

Without full and fair indexation, pathology providers will be forced to make some very difficult decisions.

Take action now

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