CHANGES IN MBS BULK BILLING INCENTIVES ADDRESS GP CAPACITY IN WOMEN’S HEALTH Reforms expand professional pathways and clinical scope to meet the demands of patients
With
Dr Sneha Wadhwani, GP
Bondi Junction Medical & Dental Centre &
Conjoint Lecturer, UNSW Medical School &
Clinical Director NSW & ACT,
Head of GP Wellbeing & Women’s Health,
ForHealth Group &
Co-Founder & National Clinical Director
Evoca Women’s Health
SEGMENT
Filmed in Sydney | November 2025
Dr. Sneha Wadhwani, a General Practitioner in Bondi, and Conjoint Lecturer at UNSW School of Medicine, is actively involved in enhancing women’s health services across Australia. As the Co-founder and Clinical Director of Evoca Women’s Health, she highlights the significant improvements in funding for women’s health, particularly with the new MBS bulk billing incentives, in new codes, that commenced on November 1, 2025.
These codes facilitate bulk billing for essential services such as menopause health assessments and long-acting reversible contraceptives, enabling more women to access critical care at little or no cost. These advancements address long-standing challenges faced by GPs, including time constraints and inadequate funding, which have historically limited comprehensive women’s health care delivery.
The investment in training for IUDs and contraceptive implants is another vital component of this initiative, equipping more GPs to provide these services effectively. Dr. Wadhwani notes that the Evoca model prioritises GP-led, holistic care, with trained practitioners working alongside allied health professionals to support women through various stages of their lives.
With the expansion of Evoca clinics from one to 43 nationally and an expectation that 75% will eventually adopt bulk billing, Dr Wadhwani believes there is a significant opportunity for GPs interested in women’s health to upskill and serve women who have previously delayed care due to costs. Dr. Wadhwani emphasises that addressing women’s health has far-reaching effects on families and communities, creating a compelling call to action for clinicians to embrace these new incentives.
Source: Adapted from transcript
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HIGHLIGHTS The power of social determinants of health, panel discussion
Clinicians and consumers know only too well that life circumstances such as poor housing, income and food insecurity can have a negative impact on health outcomes. Conversely, participation in community activities, social connection and access to nature parks and leisure facilities can help maintain health and wellbeing.
More recent phenomena in public health have also focused us on the health and social care connection. Stress factors such as the sudden loss of employment and social interaction, moving to remote work or schooling, and the impacts of sudden, localised COVID-19 ‘lockdowns’ to prevent further outbreaks were triggers of increased psychological distress.
And loneliness is being described as our latest epidemic with chronic loneliness inked to a myriad of health problems and earlier death. A recent report found one in four Australians say they feel persistently lonely, and that loneliness costs $2.7 bn a year in health costs alone.
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Metabolic health expert talks about healthy ageing
David Beard is a highly experienced Exercise Physiologist with a specialisation in metabolic health and healthy aging. He has spent over 40 years in this profession, even before exercise physiology was formally recognised as a discipline. His extensive background includes over a decade of working in aged care and a strong focus on adult health and fitness. David has authored a book on healthy aging and dedicated the last 10 to 12 years to advancing his expertise in metabolic health issues such as diabetes, weight loss, and inflammatory conditions. He is a co-owner of HFRC in Nedlands, Western Australia, where he has worked for nearly a decade.
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Patient family develops app for improved adherence and clinical outcomes
Darron Goralsky, a physiotherapist with over 30 years of experience, is the Clinical Director and Founder of Melbourne TMJ and Facial Pain Centre. He leads a multidisciplinary team dedicated to treating jaw pain, facial pain, and headaches. Goralsky has observed a rise in musculoskeletal issues among younger populations, largely due to increased screen time and poor posture, trends that intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic. Emphasising technology integration and patient responsibility, he believes digital health solutions play a crucial role in improving adherence and outcomes for both patients and caregivers.
