Axa Health has confirmed it has increased the fees it pays to anaesthetists and will continue to review fees across a range of medical specialisms, to ensure they are “fair and proportionate”.
At the Association of Medical Insurers and Intermediaries (AMII) Spring Health and Wellbeing Summit and AGM last May, Sarah Taylor, head of specialist and practitioner strategy at Axa Health, said the insurer had raised its published fees paid for medical procedures by 15%.
When approached for further detail about the fee hike, Axa Health revealed anaesthetists were benefiting from the increased pay.
A spokesperson for Axa Health told Health & Protection in a statement: “Axa Health recognised that some specialist’s fees needed to better reflect changing circumstances and so increased fees proportionately and fairly for those specialists.
“We continue to adjust our fees in light of market circumstances and seek to keep specialists updated and informed regarding any changes.
“It’s essential that we work constructively with specialists to ensure we have a two-way dialogue and that we’re able to listen and react appropriately so we can continue to provide safe and effective care, and continuity, for our members.
“Our fee levels and commercial agreements with specialists and healthcare providers are commercially sensitive.
“We can confirm that we did implement a 15% increase to anaesthetist fees and we review fees across a range of medical specialisms, to ensure they are fair and proportionate.”
