08 December 2025
With the introduction of the Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) and its guidelines, we have noticed an increase in general queries particularly regarding co-billing, charging consumable fees and registration backdating.
To support general practices, we’ve compiled a set of helpful resources.
On this page:
Bulk billing, co-billing and raising additional fees: Various resources to support you
- Medicare Bulk Billing and Additional Charges (Flyer): A two-page resource developed by the Department outlining bulk billing and rules around additional charges.
- AskMBS Advisory #1 – General practice services (PDF): The Department has compiled a range of ‘AskMBS Advisories’ (view series here) to support health professionals, practice managers and others to understand and comply with MBS billing requirements. The first advisory resource answers common queries on:
- Co-billing where some services are bulk billed and others privately billed.
- Whether you can raise additional fees for bulk billed services.
- RACGP – Medicare compliance (Webinar): An on-demand RACGP webinar looking at Medicare and Medicare compliance.
- RACGP – Medicare (Various resources): A suite of resources which look at navigating Medicare billing.
- AAPM – November 2025 BBPIP (Webinar): An on-demand webinar covering BBPIP in the Organisation Register and MyMedicare.
- Services Australia – About bulk billing MBS claims: Services Australia advice for Health professionals on bulk billing.
Specifically, regarding billing requirements with BBPIP:
- Countdown to November: Your Questions Answered (approximately 50-minute mark the Department answers some specific billing queries).
We will keep you up-to-date on any further resources developed by the Department and Services Australia regarding BBPIP billing compliance.
Backdating BBPIP registration date
Please be aware that the first assessment period for the BBPIP will consider 1 November 2025 – 31 December 2025. The first incentive payment will be made by Services Australia within the month following the end of the assessment period.
Assessment of eligibility starts on the date the practice registers for BBPIP in the MyMedicare system via the Organisation Register.
You can backdate BBPIP registration in the Organisation Register by 180 days when selecting a start date. Make sure the date you enter reflects the date you started bulk billing all eligible patients for all eligible services.
Provider MBS item claims with a date of service that is equal to or after the assessment start date are used to determine incentive payments. Providers and practices are not eligible for partial or pro-rated payments if bulk billing requirements are not met from their date of registration.
A BBPIP forecast assessment tool will be available mid-December. You will be able to access this via the MyMedicare tile in HPOS under Payment Eligibility.
These eLearning modules developed by Services Australia may be useful:
- Registration and eligibility assessments: MYMEDM05-MyMedicare – Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP)
- BBPIP fast-facts: MYMEDM06-MyMedicare – Bulk Billing Practice Incentive Program (BBPIP) – Fast Facts
If you require support to backdate your BBPIP registration, you can email ORGANISATION.REGISTER@servicesaustralia.gov.au or call the Medicare provider line 132 150.
