Australian Medical Association

Introduction for Doctors Fees

All medical practitioners are, of course, and should at all times regard themselves as being free, and indeed duty bound, to make their own judgement as to what fees they will charge for any service. Medical practitioners should satisfy themselves in each individual case as to a fair and reasonable fee having regard to their own practice cost experience and the particular circumstances of the case and the patient.

The AMA encourages medical practitioners to determine their fees based on their own practice costs. The cost of running medical practices which varies across the country, includes employing practice staff and operating expenses such as computers, rent, electricity, general insurance, professional insurance.

AMA Fees List

The AMA publishes the List of Medical Services and Fees. It is provided to members for costing assistance and guidance only.

1. AMA List of Medical Services and Fees - 1 January 2012 (Members Only)

The AMA Fees List is available in PDF and CSV (comma separated variable) file for importing into practice management software. Members can purchase additional copies by completing an order form. The Summary of Changes detailing new, amended or deleted items for 1 January 2012 is available here. Archived PDF and CSV versions of previous AMA Fees Lists are available here.

2. AMA template letter to patients about effect of cuts to rebates for GP Mental Health Services

The Government is cutting Medicare rebates for GP mental health services under the Better Access Program by up to 46%. This may mean increased out of pocket expenses for patients who access these services.  This template letter has been prepared to support GPs in advising their patients why they may now face a gap for these services because of the Government's cuts.

3. Video Consultation Items and Fees Calculator (Members Only)

The AMA has included new items for video consultations. While the AMA items contain indicative fees it is acknowledged that fees will vary considerably based on the type of video facilities used and how frequently they are used. The AMA has developed a Video Consultation Fees Calculator to assist members in setting their own fees based on their own practice cost experience and expected utilisation. To calculate your fee for providing video consultations, please click here.

4. AMA Gaps Poster

The AMA has long campaigned for better indexation of Medicare schedule fees so that patients receive appropriate rebates for their medical care. The AMA Gaps Poster shows the effect of the difference between the indexation of Medicare Schedule fees and the indices for Consumer Price Index and average weekly earnings. The poster is produced to assist doctors to explain to their patients why they might have to pay a gap for their medical care. This page includes a downloadable A4 size poster that you may print and display in your practice or you can order a colour A3 size poster by emailing ama@ama.com.au or calling on (02) 6270 5400.

5. AMA Template Letter to Patients about Increased Medical Fees (Members Only)

In recent years, we have seen Government making arbitrary cuts to Medicare rebates by either poor or no Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) indexation, cutting the amount of existing Medicare rebates, withdrawing MBS funding of certain medical services and capping some Extended Medicare Safety Net benefits. At the same time, the costs of running a medical practice are increasing. Many practices are having to increase their fees to meet these costs. A template letter has been prepared for medical practitioners to provide to patients to inform them about why the medical practice has had to increase its fee and why out-of-pocket costs for patients are increasing. To download the template letter to patients about increased medical fees please click here.

6. Checklist when increasing Medical Fees (Members Only)

Once the medical practitioner has decided to move to patient billing, there are a number of things to take into account when implementing higher fees. The AMA has compiled a list of specific tasks to aid medical practitioners in preparing for and implementing a smooth transition to patient billing for their services. For a copy of the checklist please click here.

7. Testimonials on Moving to Patient Billing (Members Only)

The decision to move from bulk billing to patient billing can be difficult and challenging for medical practitioners. Increasingly, medical practices are finding they must make this move to ensure their viability and enable the continued delivery of quality medical care to their patients. The attached testimonials reflect the positive outcome experienced by doctors who have made the transition and may provide encouragement for those who are considering making the change.

8. Medicare Safety Net

The Medicare Safety Net provides a higher Medicare rebate to patients when their out-of-pocket costs exceed the threshold of $399.60 for all Medicare cardholders.

9. Extended Medicare Safety Net

The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) covers 80% of the patient's out-of-pocket costs once they reach a certain threshold. For more information, please click here.

10. Medical Expenses Tax Deduction

Patients may be eligible to claim a tax offset of 20% of their total out-of-pocket medical expenses provided that the total out-of-pocket costs reaches the threshold of more than $2,060 in a financial year.

11. Order Forms and Price List

Non-members can purchase the AMA Fees List on completion of an order form. Please complete and return to Marcin Zygmunt by email to mzygmunt@ama.com.au or fax on (02) 6270 5499.

12. AMA Fees List Online Database (Members Only)

This link provides access to the AMA Fees List Online database. This allows AMA members to search the database for individual items or groups of items.

13. AMA Fees Indexation Calculator (Members Only)

The AMA has developed a fees indexation calculator for the benefit of members to calculate your own personal fee increase based on your individual cost profile.

14. AMA Medical Fees Index - Information Paper (Members Only)

This paper provides information on how the AMA fees is calculated using the AMA Medical Fees Index. 

15. Fees for Reports/Medico-Legal

Because the type of work involved in preparing medico-legal, third party or other reports, e.g. for employers or insurance companies, varies so much and is influenced by a range of factors, such as the State or Territory in which the work is undertaken, the AMA does not recommend a level or range of fees for these services. Individual practitioners set their fees for this type of work based on the time and extent of the work involved.

16. 1 November 2011 - Fees Gap Chart

The Fees Gap Chart highlights the disparity in increases between the MBS fees and the AMA MFI, CPI and AWE indices.

17. GST, Conduct Monies and Workers Compensation

This resource, with links to the ATO, provides information about the GST and how it applies to medical practice.

18. Frequently Asked Questions - Fees

Questions regularly asked of the AMA regarding doctors' fees and related issues.

19. History of the AMA List

History of the AMA List of Medical Services and Fee.

20. MBS Simplification for General Practitioner Items

The Government, as part of the 2007 Election Campaign, made a commitment to reform and simplify the MBS for GPs. From 1 May 2010, GPs will receive a higher Medicare rebate for spending more time with their patients. For further information on the simplification and to view the Government's changes to MBS GP items please click here.

21. How the Government's 2009-10 Federal Budget Measure will affect patient out-of-pocket costs

From 1 November 2009, many older Australians will be faced with extra costs for clinically necessary medical care, or face a long wait on a public hospital waiting list. To assist medical practitioners to explain these changes to their patients, and highlight the impact of the Government's decision, the AMA has prepared a list of the changes in the rebates and the resulting extra cost to patients.