Three open access articles in a recent issue of Medical Journal of Australia discuss the considerable variation in fees for surgery, noting the considerable out-of-pocket (OOP) costs for patients, and the possible consequences for sustainability. The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and Medibank, Australia’s largest private health insurer, have published reports on surgical variance, which detail the cost and outcomes of care in selected high volume procedures for general surgery, otolaryngology, urology, orthopaedics and vascular surgery. For example, prices for hip prostheses varied from $4908 and $16178, with a median of $10727.- Ian S McRae and KeVariation in the fees of medical specialists: problems, causes, solutions . Med J Aust, 206 (4): 162-163.
- Gary L Freed and Amy R Allen. (2017). Variation in outpatient consultant physician fees in Australia by specialty and state and territory. Med J Aust, 206 (4): 176-180.
- David J Hillis, David AK Watters, Lawrie Malisano, Nick Bailey and David Rankin. (2017). Variation in the costs of surgery: seeking value . Med J Aust 206 (4): 153-154
View the Surgical Variance Reports (access the latest reports here)
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