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Background: The accessibility to affordable primary healthcare services contributes to population health and health equity. A key aspect to accessibility is the geographical distribution of primary healthcare services. Limited studies have assessed the nationwide spatial distribution of bulk billing-only medical practices or 'no-fee' services. The aim of this study was to provide a nationwide approximation of bulk billing-only services and evaluate the socio-demographic status and population characteristics in relation to the distribution of bulk billing-only GP services. Methods: The methodology in this study used Geographic Information System (GIS) technology to map the locations of all bulk bulking-only medical practices collected in mid-2020 and linked this with population data. The population data and practice locations were analysed at the level of Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) regions and used the most recent Census data. Results: The study sample included (n = 2095) bulk billing-only medical practice locations. The nationwide average Population-to-Practice (PtP) ratio was 1 practice to 8529 people for regions with access to bulk billing-only practice, and 57.4% of the Australian population lives within an SA2 that has access to at least one bulk billing-only medical practices. No significant associations were identified between practice distribution and area socio-economic status. Conclusion: The study identified areas with low access to affordable GP services, with many SA2 regions having no access to bulk billing-only practices. Findings also indicate that there was no association between area socio-economic status and the distribution of bulk billing-only services. Inadequate subsidisation of the Medicare rebate threatens the survival of bulk billing only GP services. Little is known of the socio-economic status of bulk billing only practice localities and whether they target disadvantaged populations. This research provides a current estimation of the distribution of bulk billing only GP services in Australia in relation to surrounding population socio-economic demographics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vast distances across Australia and the uneven population distribution form a challenging environment in providing the population with health and dental care. The Australian dental workforce distribution was analysed by using statistics from the open Census source available on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) website. This study aimed to construct a detailed analysis of the large differences in the practice-to-population (PtP) ratios across Australia, as well as the effect of maldistribution for rural and remote areas, where economics plays an important role. The national Census data at the level of Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) (approximating suburbs) from 2011 was integrated with the location of all private dental practices in Australia (collected in late 2015) using modern geographic tools. All private dental practice (n = 7597) location coordinates were mapped nationwide, across 2157 statistical areas. The population in Australia without a dental practice in their area was 31.6%. The PtP ratio differed from one practice per 40 people to one practice per 27 773 people. The nationwide calculation of the PtP ratio shines light on issues about the dental workforce. The study results confirmed the uneven distribution of dental practices in rural and remote areas and socioeconomically disadvantaged areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]