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Growing support for the AMA’s Informed Financial Consent guide from medical groups

The Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS) and the Urological Society of Australia and New Zealand (USANZ) have signed up to the Informed Financial Consent: A Collaboration Between Doctors and Patients guide, which was developed by the AMA in consultation with 13 other leading medical organisations.

The guide empowers patients with important information to help them understand medical costs, and gives them confidence to discuss and question fees with their doctors.

AMA President, Dr Tony Bartone, said the addition of RACS and USANZ as partners to promote the guide to their members and patients sends a very strong signal that the whole medical profession is committed to greater transparency on medical fees and the cost of quality medical care and treatment.

“The Informed Financial Consent (IFC) guide is a major step in building health financial literacy for patients,” Dr Bartone said.

Dr Bartone said that by empowering patients with the knowledge to discuss their medical fees, it will provide patients and their families greater comfort and security as they prepare for treatment, allowing patients to focus on the preparation for their procedure and make the best possible recovery.

RACS President, Dr Tony Sparnon, said RACS has been active in this area and is supportive of other key healthcare stakeholders to do the same. He highlighted that the IFC guide is an important communication tool for patients, doctors and private insurers to encourage fee transparency relating to a procedure.

USANZ President, Dr Stephen Mark, said USANZ supports transparency of medical costs and believes no person should undergo financial distress to receive medical care.

The Informed Financial Consent (IFC) guide includes:

  • an Informed Financial Consent Form for doctors and patients to use together;
  • information on fees and medical gaps; and
  • questions for patients to ask their doctors about costs.

The AMA and contributing groups promote and disseminate the guide through their memberships, and it is available from doctors, medical practices, the AMA website, and the website of other organisations.    

Informed Financial Consent: A Collaboration Between Doctors and Patients is available here.  

More information is available here.

Read the full media release here.

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