Anaesthetic fees are based on the Commonwealth Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) and the Australian Society of Anaesthesia relative value guide (RVG). The billing details for each doctor will be within their individual profile. Most doctors do not deal with billing directly in order to focus on patient care.
For outpatient care, this is funded by medicare. This is not relevant for most anaesthesia except preoperative consultations. For inpatient care (day surgery and overnight surgery), this is funded by medicare benefit scheme (MBS) and private health funds (PHF). Since the MBS began 40 years ago, its value has not been indexed to the inflation (ie it has not kept up with the cost of living, eg houses cost more than they did 40 years ago). The MBS payments have been frozen for the last decade. Similarly with the payments from many private health insurance funds. Therefore some practitioners charge an out of pocket expense (also known as a gap, co payment) to cover the shortfall of running their practice.
Most practitioners charge the private health funds and medicare directly and if there is a copayment, will bill the patient. Unfortunately there are some private health funds who are very difficult to deal with and so with these the patient may get billed directly (to then get the amount back from their PHF and medicare).
For uninsured medicare eligible patients, you are entitled to a medicare rebate once you get your bill from your practitioners. Overseas patients and non medicare eligible patients are normally expected to cover both the cost of the medicare as well as the private health fund. If you are either uninsured or an overseas patient you are likely to need to make a prepayment before the procedure based on an estimated cost.
Please see our contact page for information about how to contact Metropolitan Anaesthesia to request more details about your likely bill.