Warrnambool has 11 GP clinics, but only two offer bulk billing to all patients, making it a town with one of the lowest number of bulk-billed practices in the region, despite having nearly triple the amount of clinics compared with nearby towns.
According to healthcare directory Cleanbill’s April 2026 Blue Report, less than half of GP clinics in regional Victoria fully bulk bill their patients, with an average fee of $47.30 per consultation.
How did we get here? Reporting by the University of Sydney notes the gap traces back to a Medicare rebate freeze first introduced by the federal Labor government in 2013 and extended by the Coalition in 2014.
The freeze locked in the amount GPs were reimbursed per consultation.
This continued even as costs of running a clinic kept rising, pushing many towards charging patients a “mixed billing gap fee”.
Nine of Warrnambool’s clinics operate with a mixed billing model.
Is anything being done? The federal government moved to address this at last year’s election, unveiling an $8.5 billion Medicare package that took effect in November.
The package aims to triple the number of fully bulk-billed clinics from 1,600 to 4,800 across the country by 2030.
So where can West Vic residents still access bulk billing?
Colac
Three out of Colac’s four GP clinics offer bulk billing.
Colac Medical Centre, Colac Central Medical Centre and Otway Medical centre offer bulk-billed appointments, while Corangamite Clinic primarily offers mixed billing.
Warrnambool
Out of the 11 clinics in Warrnambool, only Gunditjmara Health Clinic and WRAD offer bulk billing to all patients.
The two Ochre Medical Care clinics, Cambourne Clinic, Hopkins Medical Centre, Seaview Health, Middle Island, King Street and Lyndoch Medical Hub offer mixed billing.
WRAD Health said it provides care to around 2,700 patients a year across eight doctors, with over more than 18,000 consults a year.
As a not-for-profit health service, CEO Mark Powell said in a 2025 statement things like missed appointments can financially impact the clinic.
“If we said conservatively there were 30 did-not-attend appointments every month, that means about $2400 lost revenue which we need to pay the costs of providing a free healthcare service,” he said.
“We are funded through receipts from Medicare. If people don’t come, we don’t get paid but still have to pay the doctors, nurses, receptionists and other services costs.”
Hamilton
Two of Hamilton’s three practices offer bulk billing.
Hamilton Family Practices and Winda-Mara Aboriginal Corporation offer bulk-billed appointments, while Hamilton Medical Group does not.
Portland
Two of Portland’s three clinics offer bulk billing.
Portland Family Practice and Seaport Medical offer bulk-billed appointments, while Active Health is mixed billing.