Cough up or queue up: the tough choice facing patients in need of specialist care
A close-up view of a doctor's hand pointing at brain scan images displayed on a digital tablet. This image captures a moment of medical analysis, highlighting the use of digital technology for detailed examination of patient's health diagnostics. Credit: Tom Werner/Getty Images
A new report has found that high medical costs have caused almost two million Australians to delay or skip appointments with specialist doctors. The report from the Grattan Institute says some specialists in the private sector charge patients two to three times more than the rate Medicare sets for those services. The institute suggests stripping public funding to doctors charging excessive fees could be part of the remedy.
Share
