There’s a lot of noise around the government’s upcoming 12.5% bulk billing incentive, but before you jump at the promise of “free money,” take a beat.

This episode is a deep dive into what’s really going on behind the curtain. If you’re a GP or Practice Owner in the “maybe” camp — uncertain whether to take the deal or wait it out — this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward in a way that protects your clinic, your income, and your patients.

We unpack the hard truths and hidden strings behind the November incentives and how jumping too soon could lock you into a high-volume, low-autonomy future. If you've built your business on high-quality care and sustainable growth, this episode will give you the mental tools to see past the headlines.

In this episode of the Scale My Clinic Podcast, you’ll learn:

• How to assess if the 12.5% incentive is a win or a trap (00:30)
• The real cost of “free” care: rising unpaid workload and the slow death of practitioner autonomy (08:00)
• What happens when your clinic’s identity is no longer yours (18:26)
• A proven alternative: how one clinic went from 20% to 93% private billing in 9 months (33:29)

Whether you're leaning toward bulk billing or planning to stay private, this episode will help you future-proof your business, avoid burnout, and serve your patients without selling your soul to government contracts.

Listen now to hear why a short-term gain could become your long-term pain and what you should be focusing on instead.

If you haven’t listened to our previous episode talking about The Metrics Powering Australia’s Top GP Clinics with Chris Smeed, go back and check out Episode 48.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general practice owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.

Subscribe to the Scale My Clinic Podcast for weekly insights and strategies to scale your clinic.

Share this episode with other general Practice Owners and follow us on Facebook at Scale My Clinic for more updates and resources.