Focus on medicos’ charges
AUSTRALIANS are being forced to surrender their retirement nest eggs to cover massive medical bills.
The situation is so dire that the former head of the Health Department says it’s now time doctors were forced to publish their charges.
Professor Stephen Duckett went further to say that medicos should get no money from Medicare if their bill is more than twice the Medicare rebate.
Surgeon’s complication rates and unplanned readmissions rates should also be made public so patients can check whether their performance matches the fees they charge, Prof Duckett said.
Health funds and highcharging health professionals are under the microscope in a Senate inquiry as official data shows health funds profits soared to more than $1.4 billion in the 12 months to June.
Government figures show health fund membership continuing to slide after premium rises more than three times the inflation rate in April.
And Medibank has released data showing some prostate cancer surgeons slugging their patients more than $10,000 in out-of-pocket expenses.
Variations in surgeon’s fees are so great it could be cheaper for patients in Sydney to pay for a plane trip and have their surgery in another state.
Bob Geiszler had to surrender $16,000 of his retirement nest egg to pay for his prostate cancer surgeon, surgeon’s assistant, anaesthetist and medical tests after his health fund failed to cover all his expenses.
The 70-year-old retired salesman says his surgeon charged $9800 but his health fund only provided a $1500 rebate for his entire treatment. SARAH Richards’ dream of setting up her own retail space for her clothing brand is one in the box.
The Miami teacher wanted a permanent home for her growing firm Jnr Nation and, drawing inspiration from the rebuild following the Christchurch earthquake, decided to build her own.
Ms Richards fitted a $2000 shipping container with lights, selling counter and clothes railing to turn it into an operational shopfront.
“All the stock was taking over our house so we thought ‘OK, what’s something unique and economical we can do’?”
“After the earthquake in Christchurch, a lot of infrastructure was destroyed so they rebuilt their shopping mall with containers and I really liked that idea.”
Gold Coast council approved the container set up at Mermaid Motors, which is owned by Ms Richards and husband Matthew.
“We have really unique food-inspired and militarythemed clothes for the boys, and for the girls we have vibrant colourful lycra pieces like mermaid leggings,” Ms Richards said.