Patients should be given a clear choice of specialist when they are referred by a doctor, a Productivity Commission report recommends.
The wide-ranging report into human services argues patients need to be given greater "referral choice" when selecting a specialist.
It argues regulations should be changed to make it clear people can choose which private specialist they see when they are going to be referred, with the support of their doctor.
The commission says there is a common misconception a named referral for a specialist cannot be accepted by an alternative provider.
Therefore it also wants referrals to include a clear statement telling patients about their right to choose.
The commission estimates there would be an increased cost associated with longer GP visits under the changes, but they would be outweighed by the benefits of patient choice.
It could encourage providers to improve their service quality and accountability.
The cost to the government of Medicare spending on the longer GP services would be in the range of $6 million to $24 million, the report estimates.
Every year GPs make about 15 million referrals to specialists.
The report also found Australians who receive public dental services in government-operated clinics have little choice over who they see or where and when.
It calls for digital oral health records which would help people take their details with them.
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