Patient access must be the priority. Medicare rebates have not kept pace with inflation or the real costs of delivering modern, safe, specialist surgical care. Over many years, this growing gap has placed increasing pressure on the private sector and, ultimately, on patients’ ability to access timely surgery.
A strong and sustainable private sector is essential to the health system as a whole. When private care becomes less viable, demand shifts to the public system, increasing waiting times and placing further strain on hospitals and the workforce.
RACS supports transparency and ethical billing and acknowledges the Commonwealth’s fee finder tool as a step toward clearer information for patients. The vast majority of surgeons already practise responsibly and ethically, guided by profession-led benchmarks.
RACS does not support price capping. Arbitrary limits risk unintended consequences for access, quality of care and workforce sustainability. Meaningful reform must be informed by the realities of delivering safe surgical care and developed with the surgical profession actively involved.
RACS will continue to advocate for appropriate indexation of Medicare rebates and funding settings that reflect the true costs of care. Our focus is on ensuring patients can continue to access high-quality surgical care and that the health system remains sustainable for the future.