The Medicare rebate for a standard consultation rises from $39.75 to $41.20 tomorrow, while GP groups expect a second increase to $41.55 later this year. 

A 3.6% boost from indexation is locked in to occur on 1 July, significantly higher than the 30-year average (1.1% annually), yet still below the consumer price index (7.0% in the 12 months to March). 

But the Federal Government says it will invest another $1.5 billion over four years into Medicare by rolling out a new indexation formula that will “better align with changes in economic conditions”.

A parliamentary budget analysis published last month explained that the first indexation rise of 3.6% was determined “in line with the previous methodology” but another round of indexation was expected in November using the new formula.