Psychiatrists and paediatricians charging up to triple standard fees
A Grattan Institute study found more than 2.2 million Australians paid extreme specialist fees last year.
More than 2.2 million Australians faced extreme specialist fees last year, according to research from the Grattan Institute. The most expensive 5% of psychiatrists charged a median fee of $669 for an initial consultation, 104% more than their peers.
High-cost paediatricians charged $362 (212% more) and high-cost cardiologists $265 (203% more). The Grattan Institute found these extreme charges cannot be justified by rising business costs or inadequate government rebates.
While Medicare rebates fell by $9 in real terms between 2012 and 2025, specialists raised patient fees by an average of $37. The report calls for government intervention including binding training quotas and expanded public clinic services.
- 2.2 million
- Patients affected
- $669 for initial consultation
- Psychiatrist median fee
- -$9 real terms 2012-2025
- Medicare rebate change
- 250,000
- New extreme-fee patients annually
Why it mattersAustralians are rationing specialist care and skipping follow-ups because specialist fees strain household budgets.
AustraliaHealthcare affordability is deteriorating across Australia, forcing patients to delay or skip specialist treatment. Fewer than one quarter of initial specialist consultations are bulk-billed.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 9 h ago
