Private health insurers want the Federal Government’s $24 million specialist fee website to go opt-out only, forcing doctors to publish their fees unless they proactively remove their names.

It is the latest salvo in a months-long public fight between health fund lobby group Private Healthcare Australia and private hospital specialists over what the health funds claim are inflated specialist fees.

The Medical Costs Finder website has been one of the government’s most notorious white elephants.

Launched in 2019 under the Morrison Government, it has cost taxpayers around $24 million. At the time health officials revealed the figure, the names of just 20 specialists were listed on the site.