Billing, Fees and Fine Print
Billing Policy
- to provide our patients and staff with the highest quality of premises, equipment, service, convenience and care,
- to reward patients for pursuing preventative and planned care, and
- to provide equitable access to high quality primary care for all people regardless of income.
Our clinic privately bills for all consultations, with a discounted rate for holders of Healthcare Cards and Pension Cards. Payment is on the day of consultation only, by cash, EFTPOS or credit card. A Medicare rebate will be directly deposited back into your account if you are registered for same day claiming.
New Workcover claims will be charged at Workcover consultation rates directly to the individual. Please present your receipt to Workcover for reimbursement.
Health Care card holders, and Pension card holders will be required to pay a discounted out of pocket fee for appointments.
Why do we privately bill?
We have absorbed hundreds of individual price increases over the last 5 years, but the future of our clinic looks grim unless we make some difficult decisions.
When we ‘bulk bill’ an appointment, we’re agreeing to accept a fee that is roughly half of what is required to keep our practice open. The reason the fee is no longer enough to cover our costs is because whilst costs have steadily increased over the last 2 decades, the Medicare rebate – the amount the government contributes to your healthcare – has not.
We know your healthcare needs to remain affordable, and so we have carefully developed a new billing policy that we hope balances this against the future of our clinic.
What appointments will continue to have no out of pocket cost?
- Veteran Affairs Gold Card Holders and eligible conditions under White Card
- Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander patients through our ongoing commitment to Closing the Gap
- Health Assessments, Chronic Health Care Planning (Care Plans)
What if I cannot afford to pay anything towards my appointments?
If you have a health condition likely to last longer than 6 months (not including pregnancy), you may be eligible for a Care Plan.
Care Plans are designed to include a detailed annual appointment, and up to 3 further appointments 3 months apart – a total of 4 appointments per year – during which you, your doctor and nurse will undertake a thorough and detailed assessment of your health and plan ahead. If you require more than 4 appointments per year and cannot afford to pay for them a plan will be discussed during your Care Plan appointment.
I can afford the gap payment, but not the total amount, can I simply pay the gap?
Medicare doesn’t allow gap only payments. Gap only payments typically result in a 90 day delay in payment from Medicare. This is not a viable option for our clinic.
Why do I need to pay for my telephone appointments?
Telephone and Televideo appointments incur the same fee as Face-to-Face appointments because they require exactly the same amount of your doctor’s time as a Face to Face appointment. Often, they require additional reception support for you to receive your medical certificate, pathology or radiology requests or other paperwork.
If you feel you are not getting value from a telephone appointment and don’t wish to pay for it, we encourage you to book a Face-to-Face appointment instead, although, if you have tested positive to COVID-19 we currently request that your initial discussion be via telephone.
I don't like the changes and I wish to complain
Please join us in protesting about the out-of-pocket cost of your healthcare. The only way to remedy this is to let the federal government know, through your federal MP Ted O’Brien or the Minister for Health Mark Butler MP, that your access to healthcare is now being limited by cost.
Your general practitioners in primary care receive the very lowest percentage of funding in the health budget. This needs to change so that our business can continue to provide you with the preventive, whole-of-person, continuous care you deserve and need.
See our fee schedule below for costs of care, and if you are experiencing financial hardship, please discuss this with our Practice Manager or with your doctor.
Cancelling or missing an appointment
Please telephone the clinic with at least two hours’ notice if you can’t get to a scheduled appointment.
If you fail to make it without cancelling, you’ll be charged a fee of $90 (standard consult) or $150 (long consult). No further appointments will be made until the fee is paid.
Zero Tolerance
Buderim Medical Centre has a zero tolerance for abusive or threatening behaviour against staff. This includes shouting, swearing, aggressive actions, threats, inappropriate gestures and name calling. Abusers will be required to leave the clinic and to transfer their care to another practice. Refusal to leave will result in the police being called.
Prescription of addictive medications
We take our prescription responsibilities very seriously. Please be aware that no addictive medication will be prescribed to patients on an initial visit under any circumstances. Patients who require long term prescription of addictive medications (including but not limited to opiates and benzodiazepines) will only receive these scripts after undertaking a thorough assessment of the indication, signing a treatment contract and undertaking additional evidence-based active therapies to support their wean off these medications. Repeat scripts for addictive medications will not be issued without a face-to-face appointment.
Appointment Pricing
| General Practitioner Consultations (includes telehealth) | Fee | Medicare Rebate | Your Out Of Pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 minutes | $40 | $19.60 | $20.40 |
| Standard Consultation (Up to 20 minutes) | $90 | $42.85 | $47.15 |
| Comprehensive Consultation (20 to 40 minutes) | $150 | $82.90 | $67.10 |
| Extended Appointment | $200 | $122.15 | $77.85 |
| General Practitioner Consultations Concession Rates (includes telehealth) | Fee | Medicare Rebate | Your Out Of Pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 5 minutes | $30 | $19.60 | $10.40 |
| Standard Consultation (Up to 20 minutes | $75 | $42.85 | $32.15 |
| Comprehensive Consultation (20 to 40 minutes) | $140 | $82.90 | $57.10 |
| Extended Appointment | $185 | $122.15 | $62.85 |
