AMA Doctors to reveal medical fees in a major breakthrough

A major breakthrough in medical costs now means patients will be told the entire cost of an operation and any out of pocket fees. SEE HOW MUCH YOU’RE BEING OVERCHARGED

For the first time patients will get an up front quote outlining the entire cost of surgery in a private hospital and any out of pocket expenses they face.

The quote will include not just the surgeon’s fees, but any fees for anesthetists, assistant surgeons, pathology tests, scans and medical implants.

Launched jointly by the Australian Medical Association and Health Minister Greg Hunt a new informed financial consent guide is supported by more than a dozen medical colleges.

And it is part of a suite of measures designed to bring escalating medical costs under control.

“Most consumers understand that they may need to contribute to the cost of their care,” Australian Medical Association president Dr Tony Bartone said.

“Out-of-pocket medical costs are not the major cause of discontent with health insurance among consumers – unexpected gaps are the problem,” he said.

AMA President Dr Tony Bartone launches new guide to surgery fees. Picture Kym Smith

Later this year the government will launch a website where doctors will list their fees for different procedures so patients can tell if they are getting a good deal, however, participation in the website will be voluntary for doctors.

The website will provide patients with information on Medicare rebates and health fund gap payments in addition to the doctor’s maximum fee and the most common out of pocket costs for a treatment, Mr Hunt said.

Providing an estimate of fees and the costs payable by a patient after any government and health insurer rebates is the foundation for informed financial consent. Most doctors do it well already,” Mr Hunt said.

SECRET FEE LIST YOUR DOCTOR DOESN’T WANT YOU TO SEE

BAN DOCTORS WHO OVERCHARGE FROM MEDICARE

Rising out of pocket medical expenses that are not covered by either Medicare or health funds are a key reason people are dumping or not taking out private health insurance.

Half of all health fund members face gap fees of around $1,000 but one in 50 are charged gaps of over $10,000.

More than 26,000 Australians were last year forced to raid their superannuation to pay medical fees, twice as many as two years ago.

Minister for Health Greg Hunt says fee guide will help patients. Picture Kym Smith

The AMA says part of the problem is health fund rebates differ depending on how much a doctor charges and now doctors are coming clean on their fees it wants health funds to publish their rebates on their websites.

The health fund rebate for a surgical procedure can plummet by almost $700 if a doctor charges just $1 above an amount the health fund sets as their gap fee level, the AMA has revealed.

For example a patient whose doctor participates in an insurers known gap scheme who charges a $2,532.80 fee for a procedure will get a $1,028.60 rebate from their health fund.

If the doctor instead charges $2,550, a small amount above the known gap fee set by the fund, the patient’s rebate will be only $334.70.

Private Healthcare Australia chief Dr Rachel David has suggested doctors who charged patients gap fees of over $10,000 should not be eligible for Medicare or fund rebates, nor their patients.

And the head of one of Australia’s largest health funds has called on the government to abolish Medicare and make private health insurance compulsory with the government paying the premiums for those unable to afford it.

NIB’s managing director Mark Fitzgibbon said the move would help solve the affordability crisis affecting private health insurance but it was rejected by Health Minister Greg Hunt who said the government was committed to Medicare.