Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Natasha May Health reporter

More Australians can’t afford specialist fees. Experts say it’s ‘not in the spirit of Medicare’

Medicare Yuting Zhang Cleanbill James Gillespie Dermatology
Medicare card.
Specialist fees have gone up ‘a lot’ while the Medicare schedule fee has been ‘quite flat’, meaning patients have to absorb the increasing gap, experts say. Photograph: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

The cost of an initial dermatology appointment is now up to nearly $300 on average, new data shows. It reflects a broader problem: that Medicare rebates are not keeping up with the pace specialist fees are rising.

Online healthcare directory Cleanbill, which has tracked bulk-billing rates among GPs, is expanding to provide data on out-of-pocket costs to see other health professionals, starting with dermatology.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Robert De Niro's canine secret leaves Wag the Dog co-star Woody Harrelson shocked
Woody Harrelson revealed his surprise at discovering that his Wag the Dog co-star Robert De Niro owns 18 dogs, two of which starred alongside him in his movie The Alto Knights.
BANG Premier
BANG Premier
More Than 37,000 Squishy Toys Recalled as Water Beads Inside Can Swell in a Child and Evade X-Rays
About 37,480 squishy toys with water beads are recalled. Learn the warning signs of ingestion and why X-rays may miss swallowed beads.
Medical Daily
Medical Daily
Is Store-Bought Rotisserie Chicken Actually Healthy? Here’s What to Check on the Label
A grocery store rotisserie chicken can make dinner easier without the cost of takeout or the work of cooking from scratch. It provides protein and can be used in salads, sandwiches, soups, and family meals throughout the week. However, not every rotisserie chicken has the same nutritional profile. Some contain…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Why Are Eggs Refrigerated in America but Left on the Shelf in Other Countries?
Walk into a grocery store in the United States, and you will find eggs in a refrigerated section. Visit many European grocery stores, however, and eggs may sit on ordinary shelves at room temperature. This difference often surprises American travelers who wonder why the same food requires different storage methods.…
Grocery Coupon Guide
Grocery Coupon Guide
Kim Kardashian Reveals Five Nannies for Four Kids as Kanye West and Bianca Censori Step Out in Los Angeles
Kanye West and Bianca Censori were seen with Playboi Carti at ComplexCon in Los Angeles, shortly after Kim Kardashian discussed raising their four children and using five nannies.
International Business Times UK
International Business Times UK
Woman says a male canvasser knocked at her door and wanted to talk pro-life. Then she asked him: ‘Have you ever been pregnant?’
She explained why she is pro-choice.
We Got This Covered
We Got This Covered
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.
Download on the AppStore Get it on Google Play