This report provides additional analysis of Medicare Benefits Scheme (MBS) data to that available in the MBS funded services over time dashboard.

The report shows the variation in GP services attendance rate and average GP out of pocket costs calculated on an annual and monthly basis, at the national level, by Remoteness Area (RA), and by socio-economic status (SEIFA).

Key findings:

• Australians are seeing a GP more often. From Medicare’s inception in 1984 until 2022, the yearly GP services attendance rate has increased from 3.8 to 6.8 visits per person.
• After adjusting for differences in the age structure of the populations, the age-standardised GP services attendance rate has increased from 4.0 in 1984 to 6.4 GP services per person in 2022.
• People living in areas of lower socio-economic status have consistently over time had a higher number of GP attendances.
• The average patient contribution for those GP services that were not fully subsidised through the MBS has increased over time.