PATIENTS using 38 hospitals owned by Healthscope will be charged for day and overnight services from early next year, the company has announced.
The move comes a few months after the company signed legally binding deals with more than 50% of Australia's health insurance market providers, with the company now exercising its 90-day termination notices.
Healthscope is Australia's second-largest private hospital group and is owned by US private equity firm Brookfield, which has more than $1 trillion worth of assets globally.
The company said its decision was prompted by legal action brought by one fund trying to prevent it from charging members hospital fees of up to $100 for overnight services.
Private Healthcare Australia CEO, Dr Rachel David, described the move as an "unethical new low".
"This is another unethical tactic from a $1 trillion North American private equity firm that appears intent on holding health fund members hostage, while also trying to bully health funds into paying them more so they can increase their profits," Dr David said.
If Healthscope follows through with its contract termination threat, patients could be charged thousands to receive care, with Dr David urging health practitioners to suggest alternative options.
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