29 September 2016 - Health Minister Sussan Ley is under pressure to intervene in a $1 billion cost-shifting dispute ­involving public hospitals admitting patients, often through emergency departments, and having them bill their insurer for treatment.

In another illustration of the complexity of healthcare funding arrangements, state governments are encouraging public hospitals to identify patients with ­insurance and convince them to bill their health fund, even though Australians have a right to be treated publicly for free.

Patients are under no oblig­ation to declare insurance status. However, hospital administrators now offer to pay their ­excess and, in some cases, offer additional incentives such as free parking and meals for family members. But the practice is helping to drive up insurance premiums and has inflamed tensions between health funds and hospitals.

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