Episode 77: 90% Bulk Billing, 0% Profit? The ‘Free GP’ Traps Every Owner Must Avoid

Scale My Clinic

General practice is under pressure — and unless you act now, ‘free’ could cost you everything.”

In this episode, Dr Sachin Patel unpacks the real story behind the November 1st Medicare changes — and what they mean for the future of your practice. With government funding lagging, rebates shrinking, and costs rising faster than ever, Clinic Owners across Australia are facing one question: How do I stay viable without burning out?

Have a question about this episode?

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Dr Sachin reveals why “free” is never truly free — and how bulk billing incentives, MyMedicare registration, and rebate reductions could quietly erode your clinic’s autonomy if you’re not strategic. More importantly, he lays out the three principles every Clinic Owner must master right now: mitigating risk, designing smarter clinical days, and making deliberate trade-offs that protect your financial future.

This isn’t theory. It’s a grounded, practical roadmap built on real-world experience from hundreds of private Clinic Owners across Australia who’ve transformed their practices through Scale My Clinic. If you’ve been worrying about viability, struggling with costs, or wondering how to plan for these changes, this episode is your playbook for scaling smarter.

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

• The harsh truth about funding and viability, how General Practice is being systematically underfunded, and what that means for Practice Owners (00:49)
• What the November 1st Medicare changes really mean for you and how they’ll reshape General Practice economics (05:38)
• How clinic owners evolve from doing everything themselves to building a business that runs profitably without them (and how to identify where you sit right now) (10:00)
• Why “free” can destroy value in healthcare (15:00)
• How to future-proof your practice by planning smarter, reducing dependence on rebates, and protecting your income without compromising care (22:02)

Watch the Practice Success Blueprint Training

The proven roadmap GP Owners use to grow profits, reclaim time, strengthen teams, and protect their legacy: https://smc.expert/practice-success-blueprint-pc