The AMA encourages medical practitioners to determine their fees based on their own practice costs.
To guide medical practitioners in determining their fees, and to assist those considering moving from bulk billing to patient billing, the AMA provides members with
tools and resources.
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 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 patient.
The
AMA Gaps poster illustrates why patients might have to pay a gap. The poster shows the effect of the difference between the indexation of Medicare Schedule fees and the Consumer Price Index and average weekly earnings.