GP calculator tool to help bolster bulk-billing rates

Peak medical bodies have welcomed plans to make it easier for doctors to find out the impacts of bulk-billing, while also warning that care needs to be sustainable.

The federal government announced a calculator would be available online from Monday to work out the implications for clinics of bulk-billing.

The tool was launched as part of efforts to increase bulk-billing to nine out of 10 appointments by 2030, with the federal government to spend $7.9 billion to expand eligibility.

From November 1, clinics that bulk bill every patient will receive a 12.5 per cent payment for each consultation, along with a conditional, variable payment depending on the clinic's remoteness.

Health Minister Mark Butler said the calculator tool would help enable more clinics to take up bulk-billing.

"The calculator will help practices and GPs see how mixed billing practices will be better off when they switch to fully bulk-billed," Mr Butler told reporters at a Canberra GP clinic.

"Previous to three years ago, all that a GP got was a single bulk-billing incentive if they bulk-billed a pensioner or a child."

Doctor Pushpani Herath, who works at a Canberra GP clinic, welcomed the incentive payment for GPs and that it should also ease the financial strain working class families face when accessing affordable healthcare.

"My book's closed for the last three years and I would like to continue my work as a GP rather than worrying about the financial commitments for the practice," Dr Herath said.

Australia Medical Association president Danielle McMullen said additional investment and tools to help practices were always welcome, but measures needed to ensure financial viability.

"Without having seen the calculator, we still welcome that ability for better transparency for general practices ... we want care to be affordable, but it does also have to financially sustainable," she told AAP.

"Tools to make things easier for practices are welcome ... having 8000 general practices all having to figure out the finances themselves, if this does streamline things then that is useful."

The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners also liked the move and said it would keep working with the government on more affordable care measures.

"The college will continue to advocate for increasing Medicare rebates so patients face lower out-of-pocket costs, particularly for longer consultations where time and continuity are essential," a spokesperson told AAP.

"This support must extend to all practices, regardless of whether they take up current incentive programs."