Posted by Michael Wonder on 16 Aug 2018
High and random medical gap costs revealed
16 August 2018 - The random scale and nature of out of pocket fees charged by medical specialists revealed in a new official report highlights the need for more equity and transparency in the health system, the Consumers Health Forum says.
The report into out of pocket charges for services outside hospitals released by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare today (Thursday) shows nearly three quarters of specialists’ patients incur out of pocket costs which can vary markedly, and more than 1.3 million patients delay or don’t see a doctor because of cost.
“That many people do not access the specialist care that has been recommended by their GP presents a disturbing insight into the unbalanced access to care that is a reality in Australia today,” the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Leanne Wells, says.
