The Morrison Government claimed the data showed “record” levels of bulk billing, at 86.1 per cent, but in Tasmania, the figure was at 75.7 per cent for the 12 months to September.

Online doctor booking service HealthEngine could not find an available bulk-billing GP in Launceston for the coming week. Bulk-billing has diminished in the region in recent years and pushed patients to travel an hour out of town to avoid upfront costs.

The Medicare rebate freeze on specialist procedures and Allied Health will remain until July 2019 and 100 GP items will be frozen until 2020.

Related: Tasmanian Health Minister rejects funding bulk billing

Federal member for Bass Ross Hart said the lack of bulk-billing GPs in Launceston was a common complaint brought to his office.

“No one I know is able to access a GP who bulk bills, and complaints from constituents on a regular basis confirm my anecdotal impression,” he said.

“The challenge to Mr Morrison is, ‘Where are these people being bulk-billed?’

“This is only adding fuel to the fire of the ongoing crisis we see at our hospitals everyday. If people need treatment they should see a doctor immediately, not wait until it’s a crisis and requiring emergency treatment.”

Medicare services were accessed in Tasmania almost 2.2 million times in the 12 months to September, an increase of 5.2 per cent on the same time last year.

Related: Scrapping bulk billing would hurt struggling Tasmanian families: AMA Tasmania

The increase was easily the fastest in Australia, ahead of 3.7 per cent in Western Australia and 3 per cent in Queensland and the ACT.

It was reflected in the Medicare benefits figure in Tasmania, which saw a 6.2 per cent increase to $124 million for the 12-month period.

There was some relief for patients, however, with Tasmania having the lowest patient contribution at an average of 50.1 per cent.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the government had indexed the Medicare Benefits Schedule, adding $1.5 billion for Medicare services to 2021-22.

He said Labor introduced the Medicare freeze which had since “ended”.

“More Australians are visiting their doctor without having to pay a cent, with new data showing a record GP bulk-billing rate for the September quarter,” Mr Hunt said.

“Only this month we announced for the first time, those Australians with severe eating disorders will now be able to access a comprehensive treatment plan under Medicare.

“Patients will be able to access up to 40 Medicare-funded psychological and an up 20 dietetic sessions each year from November 1 next year.

“The $110.7 million investment into the first dedicated Medicare item for eating disorders will benefit around 30,000 people each year living with these debilitating disorders.”