Surgery Fees and Financial Consent Information

Our fees are based on the guidelines established by the Australian Medical Association (AMA) and the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

For all patients undergoing surgery, we provide Informed Financial Consent. This allows you to review the relevant item numbers and confirm your level of coverage with your health fund.

Surgical Costs: What to Expect

There are three separate fees, each payable to a different party:

1. Surgeon’s Fee
2. Anaesthetist’s Fee
   – The anaesthetist will contact you prior to your procedure to provide an informed financial consent.
3. Hospital Bed and Theatre Costs
   – If you have private health insurance, your costs are typically limited to your policy’s excess.
   – If you are self-funded or uninsured, we will obtain a quote from the hospital on your behalf.

Medicare and Private Health Rebates

Most ENT procedures (excluding cosmetic surgeries) are listed under Medicare item numbers and therefore attract a government rebate. Private health insurers may cover up to 25% above the Medicare rebate for these procedures.

However, it’s important to note that Medicare rebates have remained largely unchanged since 1983. These stagnant rebates have not kept pace with inflation, the rising costs of running a high-quality medical practice, or the increasing cost of indemnity insurance.

As a result, there may be a significant gap between the rebates and the actual cost of care, which contributes to patients’ out-of-pocket expenses. Our fees, based on AMA guidelines, are often up to three times the Medicare rebate—highlighting this discrepancy.