11 March 2017 - Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt wants the states to help address problems with private health insurance, starting with the issue of public hospitals billing members for treatment they could receive without charge.

Mr Hunt already has the support of NSW Health Minister Brad Hazzard who, despite his state having the highest rate of private billing, has vowed to work with him on the rising cost of insurance.

The Weekend Australian last week revealed an Ernst and Young report had found NSW, Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia and Tasmania setting targets for public hospitals to find insurance money outside the ­national funding arrangements established under the Rudd-­Gillard Labor governments.

Read The Australian article