PRIVATE Healthcare Australia (PHA) has called for more measures to "crack down on egregious billing by medical specialists who can currently charge whatever they like", following the release of the Inquiry into Price Gouging and Unfair Pricing Practices report.
Launched yesterday by Prof Allan Fels, the report noted that out-of-pocket fees charged by specialists, such as surgeons and cardiologists increased by more than 50% in real terms from 2012-2022.
This confirms PHA's data released last week which shows out-of-pocket costs for common procedures in private hospitals increased up to 300% over the last five years, well above inflation.
In the Fels report, pharmacy customers or patients shared stories of paying up to $23,000 out-of-pocket for some operations, and as much as $800 for a surgeon to review them after their operation.
The report suggested that some of the highest price increases occurred in sectors which were characterised as having a disproportionate market power, or a level of power over consumers.
PHA CEO Dr Rachel David said this was very relevant in healthcare.
"When people receive a serious clinical diagnosis, they are at their most vulnerable.
"There is a massive information asymmetry between a medical specialist and the average consumer, which can easily be exploited," she commented.
"This is precisely the time patients need access to accurate information about the costs they are facing as part of informed financial consent, preferably with an upfront quote for the services they will likely require.
"If we can quote for home and car repairs, there is no valid reason why this can't be done for most medical procedures."
The Commonwealth's Medical Cost Finder website was designed under the previous Govt to give consumers information about typical costs for more than 100 medical procedures, but to date it has failed to deliver, she added.
"It's time for the govt to intervene and publish doctors' fees as it has the data, they are just choosing not to publish it," remarked David.
The PHA also wants a Surprise Billing Law implemented to protect customers from unexpected bills for healthcare services. JG
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