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?

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)

QUOTES

“It’s very hard to unteach and unlearn free. Once patients are conditioned to expect everything for nothing, it’s almost impossible to reverse that mindset  and that’s exactly what threatens the sustainability of General Practice.” – Dr. Sachin Patel

“Four out of five owners are worried about whether they can keep up  and that might be you. The data shows that most Practice Owners are questioning viability right now, and unless you adapt, you’ll be carrying the weight of a system that’s been systematically underfunded for years.” – Dr. Sachin Patel

“Don’t be caught sitting on the fence, because the best opportunities on both sides will get sucked up. Whether you go mixed billing or bulk billing, what matters most is that you decide with confidence and go all in  because indecision is what kills momentum.” – Dr. Sachin Patel

“Independent practice is the backbone of quality healthcare in Australia. It’s the private clinic owners, not corporates  who are holding the line, protecting patient care, and keeping primary care strong.” – Dr. Sachin Patel

Missed the previous Episode?

Listen to Episode 76 here: Growing Your Practice Without Losing It All: The Legal Traps Every GP Owner Must Avoid with Sarah Bartholomeusz