Posted by Michael Wonder on 25 May 2018
Out of pocket costs undermining health system
25 May 2018 - Irrespective of whether or not ‘harvesting’ by public hospitals of privately insured patients is occurring, next week’s 4 Corners program on out of pocket costs should alert the private health sector to look at its own cost structures, the Consumers Health Forum says.
The 4Corners Mind the Gap documentary which is expected to demonstrate how high gap costs are undermining the private health system follows the Out of Pocket Pain survey by the Consumers Health Forum which revealed many patients were paying $10,000 or more in out of pocket costs.
“The fact that privately insured patients are getting elective surgery in public hospitals ahead of public patients is a matter of concern and deserves thorough scrutiny,” the CEO of the Consumers Health Forum, Leanne Wells, said.
