Hon. Greg Hunt
Department of Health Press Release 19th March 2019
National strategy to tackle specialist out-of-pocket costs
The Liberal National Government will launch a national strategy to tackle excessive out-of-pocket costs charged by medical specialists including by developing a website to provide Australians with transparency and an education campaign to inform patient about the costs of specialist services.
The vast majority of doctors do the right thing and disclose the costs of treatment and charges appropriately to their patients.
However, the Ministerial Advisory Committee on Out-of-Pocket Costs report, released today, has found a minority of medical specialists charge very large or unexpected out-of-pocket costs.
This practice can cause enormous distress and financial hardship for patients and their families. It also undermines Australia’s private health insurance system.
Our Government will fund the development of a national searchable website to provide the public with greater access to information about the costs of specialist services.
Specialists will initially be expected to show their fees as agreed with the medical profession on the website to enable patients and GPs to consider costs when determining their choice of specialists.
To read the press release in full click here.