Australia’s medical colleges have unveiled new guidance for specialists, including demands to formally document patients’ financial consent and to avoid setting fees that “maximise profit at the expense of patient equity”.

It comes amid renewed political pressure on the profession, with the Federal Government wanting to name those it considers charge excessive fees through a mandatory disclosure of all specialist fees on the Medical Costs Finder website.

Officials are also examining the option of legislative changes to withhold Medicare rebates from specialists the government considers are charging too much for their care.

A new list of dos and don’ts has now been drawn up by the Council of Presidents of Medical Colleges, which says it will work with the government to revamp the Medical Costs Finder website.