Doctors push for expanded bulk-billing as patients feel the pinch of cost-of-living pressures Health professionals are concerned that many Australians are delaying medical appointments due to cost-of-living pressures, leading to long-term health risks. The government has offered incentives to doctors who bulk-bill certain groups, but GPs believe this scheme excludes many struggling Australians. A West Australian man with a chronic illness had to beg for a bulk-billed appointment, highlighting the impact of unaffordable healthcare on patients' well-being. GPs are calling for an increase in Medicare rebates to make consultations more affordable, as the cost of general practice is rising faster than inflation.