Anaesthetic Fees

When you come to hospital, you may receive a separate account from your anaesthetist. Below are answers to common questions about how anaesthetic fees work, what they cover, and how you can plan ahead.

Why do anaesthetic fees vary?

Anaesthetic fees depend on several factors, including:

• The type and duration of your procedure
• The complexity of your anaesthetic care
• Your individual medical circumstances
• The timing and urgency of the procedure

Every anaesthetist is an independent medical specialist who sets their own fees based on their professional assessment of each case. There is no single fixed fee schedule.

For further background, see the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) patient FAQs.

What are AMA rates?

The Australian Medical Association (AMA) publishes a list of suggested fees that reflect the training, expertise, and responsibility involved in providing specialist care.

Anaesthetic fees are often expressed using the ASA’s Relative Value Guide (RVG), published annually by the AMA.

At this practice, I use AMA rates as a professional benchmark when setting fees. In some situations — for example, complex or lengthy operations that require significant expertise and time — my fees may be set at or near AMA levels.

For many routine or repeat procedures, such as gastroscopies, colonoscopies, or cystoscopies, I aim to keep costs manageable so that fees are not a barrier to patients receiving important screening or follow-up care.

This means that while AMA rates are a reference point, they do not automatically represent the “market rate.” Each fee is determined individually, based on the requirements of your anaesthetic care.

Will I have an out-of-pocket cost?

This depends on several factors:

• Your health fund and level of cover
• Medicare rebates available for your procedure
• The specific anaesthetic requirements
• The agreed fee for your care

Before your procedure, you will receive a detailed written fee estimate outlining the likely rebates from Medicare and your health fund, along with any expected out-of-pocket (“gap”) costs. For most straightforward or short procedures, the gap is usually modest — often well under $500. For longer or more complex operations, the gap may be higher, but you will always receive a written estimate in advance so there are no surprises.

How can I find out my costs in advance?

You have the right to clear information about your anaesthetic fees before any procedure.

• My practice provides written fee estimates for all scheduled procedures.
• We encourage you to discuss any questions about costs or health fund coverage.
• Our team can help clarify your likely out-of-pocket expenses before admission.

The ASA has also published a guide to billing that you may find useful: ASA Billing Information (PDF).

Why isn’t everything fully covered by Medicare or health funds?

Medicare and private health insurers set rebate levels that often do not reflect the full cost of providing specialist care. These rebates lag behind the real costs of maintaining a safe anaesthetic practice, ongoing professional training, and insurance requirements.

Some health funds also set a “maximum gap” they will cover (commonly around $500). If fees go above this cap, the rebate can actually be reduced — increasing the out-of-pocket cost. Unfortunately, this is due to Medicare and health fund policy, not anaesthetists. Where possible and appropriate, I keep fees fair and manageable, but under-indexing by funds makes this more challenging over time.

My approach to fair billing

I am committed to:

• Transparent communication – clear estimates and open discussion of fees
• Appropriate fee setting – billing that reflects the clinical complexity and requirements of your care
• Consideration of procedure type – recognising that not all procedures carry the same anaesthetic demands
• Patient-centred care – balancing professional fees with fair patient access

Many routine procedures — such as gastroscopies, colonoscopies, or cystoscopies — are often required for screening or follow-up care. In these situations, I believe fees should not become a barrier to patients receiving necessary and repeat procedures. My aim is to keep costs manageable while ensuring safe, high-quality anaesthetic care.

Key Takeaway

Anaesthetic fees are individually determined for each patient, based on your procedure and clinical needs. You should always feel comfortable requesting a written estimate in advance.

My practice prioritises transparency, fairness and patient-centred billing.

For additional information, please refer to the ASA’s patient FAQs.