Spike in cost for surgeries

PATIENTS could find themselves over $10,000 out of pocket for common surgeries, as radical changes to the Medicare rebate scheme are introduced.

More than 900 procedures including hip, shoulder, hand, cardiac and other surgeries are impacted in the overhaul next month, with doctors warning it will create “total chaos”.

In some areas, like shoulder surgery, one in four of the existing items have disappeared altogether so there will be no Medicare or health fund rebate – patients will have to either pay the full cost or do without the surgery.

Some tendon procedures for elbow surgeries have also been wiped and with no Medicare or health fund rebate, could cost patients $7000 to $10,000.

And fee cuts for hip arthroplasty could deliver a $1200 gap.

Young people and sports people are among those worst impacted, now faced with having to fully fund their own microsurgery for an extremely common hip condition.

Femoro-acetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) – where extra bone grows along the hip joint causing an irregular shape and painful rubbing during movement – is no longer allowed as a diagnosis.

Australia has now become the only medically advanced country not to recognise this diagnosis or treatment – through a hip arthroscopy – the Australian Medical Association (AMA) said.

Five-time world freestyle skiing champion and Olympian Jacqui Cooper had the microsurgery seven times and blasted the move as “unacceptable”.

After dislocating her hip, minimally invasive hip arthroscopy surgery fixed the problem and meant she had such a short recovery time she was able to compete at the 2010 Olympics.

“I don’t think it’s acceptable at all. Australians need to have access to minor surgical procedures. This is going to put a lot of pressure on people and if they don’t have the money they’re going to be walking around in pain,” she said.