National snapshot Insurer reveals surgery rip- offs

PATIENTS are being charged four times more for surgery by some doctors even though their outcomes are not necessarily better, Medibank data shows.

One doctor performing gall bladder surgery and another who does bowel resections had almost two in three of their patients readmitted to hospital within a month.

A doctor doing hernia repairs had 40 per cent of his patients readmitted in 30 days.

Another doctor performing gall bladder surgery had more than one in four patients admitted to ICU. Despite the alarming infection and readmission rates the college of surgeons says it has no way of identifying the potentially underperforming surgeons.

Royal Australasian College of Surgeons spokesman Dr John Quinn says privacy laws prevent the college getting information on the surgeons.

“We’re not the policeman of the surgical world, these variances, there are lots of ways to interpret them,” Dr Quinn said.

For example when the alarm was raised about a 50 per cent hospital readmission rate after varicose vein surgery it turned out the surgeons did the right leg on one occasion and did the left leg four weeks later so there was no problem at all. Some doctors may do more high risk cases or treat older patients and this could explain some variance.

The fees charged by some surgeons and hospital re- admissions are key factors driving up health fund premiums.

Medibank is hoping by publishing data on the range of fees, patients will be able to bargain for a better deal.

It is working with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons which has vowed to stamp out overcharging.

Consumer’s Health Forum chief Leanne Wells says the report underlines CHF’s views that “full transparency is needed when it comes to the cost and performance of surgeons”.

Medibank’s data shows patients can get a colonoscopy for as little as $ 1153 but some doctors are charging $ 6308.

Nine per cent of patients who have a colonoscopy face an out pocket charge averaging $ 272 but the gap fees can be as high as $ 673.

A hernia procedure can cost as little as $ 2430 but some surgeons are charging $ 9933.

One in four hernia patients copped an out of pocket charge averaging $ 599 but gap fees could be as high as $ 1556. THE heartbroken family of a young Australian soldier who was fatally shot in the head during military drills in the Northern Territory will never forget the cheeky, loving boy who brought them all together.

Private Jason Challis ( pictured) from Geelong in Victoria was killed during livefire exercises at the Mount Bundey Training Area, about 100km southeast of Darwin, on Wednesday afternoon.

The Digger, aged in his 20s, was treated at the scene and flown to a Darwin hospital, where he died of suspected heart failure.

“Our beautiful boy has gone,” Private Challis’ family said in a statement. “His cheekiness and loving ways will stay with us forever.”

The family said Private Challis’ personality delighted and brought people together.t th “E Everyone he met loved him... Jason was the best son, step- son, brother and mate you could ever ask for,” they said.

Private Challis’ platoon comrades have been praised for their efforts to save his life.

Veteran and federal Labor MP Luke Gosling said troops, combat medics and air medical staff never gave up on him.

Mr Gosling said those involved were receiving psychological and pastoral support.

The Australian Defence Force has suspended training activities for its combat brigades across the country to review training safety procedures. It comes less than a week after a 21- year- old trooper was killed by a falling tree branch during training near Rockhampton.

NT police are investigating.