Dr Solomon uses the Australian Medical Association (AMA) fees as a guideline for consultation and surgical fees. Historically the AMA fees and MBS (Medicare) fees where the same. Over the past 30 years the medicare fees have not kept up with practice costs and inflation. It is astounding that the GP and Specialist medicare care fees were purposefully frozen for many years. GP’s in particular have borne the brunt of financial squeezes and as a result escalating practice costs have led to many GP’s closing their practices and joining corporate GP practices to try and earn a living.
