Exercise physicians say they are becoming a “luxury specialty”, accessible only to the rich because their patients’ Medicare rebates are even lower than those in general practice.

The Australasian College of Sports and Exercise Medicine (ACSEP) says a major boost in Medicare funding is urgently needed, with figures suggesting patients are facing out-of-pocket costs of $128 — the fifth highest of any specialty (see table below).

Fellows of the college are treated as ‘specialists’ under Medicare, and patients rebates are up to $73.85 for an initial consult.

But that drops to $37.15 for follow-up appointments — less than half the rebate for a long GP consult and three times lower than that for an attendance with a consultant physician.