The Grattan Institute says a handful of greedy specialists – charging high fees and increasing private hospital bills – are to blame for issues with the private health system.

The think tank has released a report showing changes to rein in the higher charges could drive premiums down, and help prevent the “death spiral” of people walking away from cover.

Co-author Stephen Duckett told Gareth Parker about seven per-cent of in-hospital medical services are billed at more than twice the official Medicare benefit schedule fee.

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