ASA submission on informed financial consent

The ASA submitted that the gold standard for IFC is a written estimate of the anaesthesia fee, including an acceptable fee range, together with a reasonable indication of likely out-of-pocket costs. Wherever possible, this should be provided before the day of surgery and supported by written acceptance from the patient.

The submission draws on data collected through the ASA’s Specialist Fees and Patient Out-of-Pocket Costs survey, which examined members’ experiences with fee setting, patient costs and IFC processes.

While strongly supporting clear cost information for patients, the ASA emphasised that IFC cannot be provided in every circumstance. Anaesthetists often have limited or no direct contact with patients until shortly before a procedure, particularly in day surgery, day-of-surgery admission and emergency settings. This differs from many other specialties, where patients are commonly seen in consulting rooms days or weeks in advance.

The ASA warned that any reforms to IFC or specialist billing must avoid creating unintended administrative burdens that could affect timely access to specialist services, particularly where clinical care must be arranged at short notice.

The submission also reiterated the ASA’s longstanding concern that insufficient indexation of Medicare Benefits Schedule and private health insurance rebates over many years has contributed significantly to rising patient out-of-pocket costs.

The ASA will continue to advocate for policy settings that improve patient understanding of healthcare costs while supporting safe, high-quality specialist medical care.