A Sydney GP has created a website which reveals consultation fees of medical specialists, surgeons and allied health professionals. The creator of the website, Dr Richard Zhu, says he was inspired to do so following increasing unhappiness among his patients about specialists’ fees, and their desire for more transparency so as to avoid bill shock. Research shows that out-of-pocket expenses for patients can be $100 or more between the least and most expensive practitioners in 8 out of 11 specialists. Dr Zhu believes that if patients had more information regarding fees along with the specialists’ experience and areas of interest, and were involved in the decision of seeing a particular health professional, they would be more likely to continue to see that specialist.
The site claims to also assist GPs by providing useful and relevant information about specialists. GPs can easily copy and post name and contact details into a referral letter. Health professionals can claim their profile, obtain a login and update their details as well as provide a bio. GPs and patients can use the website for free but they have to sign up and login to view figures.
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There has been some backlash by specialists who feel threatened by having their fees made transparent and some say that the figures can be misleading because it fails to take into account discretionary fee discounting for consultations which can be negotiated for those patients experiencing financial hardship. They also state that the website doesn’t disclose that around 30-40% of specialists in Australia bulk-bill and that 86% of specialists do not charge out of pocket fees for procedures. Dr Zhu, however states it was only a matter of time before fee transparency was forced on the profession anyway through government regulations. There have previously been calls for specialists to be required to make their fees available in order to be eligible to receive Medicare payments. The Australian Medical Association is cautious in its support of the new website, concerned that it may lead to rate increases.
Currently the website is still being developed and only covers NSW, VIC and WA but is planned to eventually include national data. The majority of data collected to date has been obtained through Dr Zhu calling individual practices and requesting the cost of initial consultations. The website is funded personally by Dr Zhu and donations. Dr Zhu is hoping that through specialists providing information about their fees, along with collaboration from GPs who can assist with contributing to data by providing specialists receipts, the website will continue to expand.