The Federal Government should not try to legally enforce informed financial consent, given the complexity of medical billing and the risk of unexpected treatment changes, the AMA says.

A government consultation has canvassed options for reducing so-called bill shock, including potentially expanding the powers of the Professional Services Review, with failure to obtain consent classed as inappropriate practice.

Along with the threat of hefty fines, this would then require doctors to repay Medicare rebates.

The AMA says that it is worried that the suggested reforms and publicity around them will “create a public misapprehension that a lot of doctors are dishonest”.