Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Most medical specialists will accept only referred patients. This is partly to try to ensure that the
specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition, and also because Medicare
pays higher rebates for specialist services if you have been referred.

Consultation fees

Consultation fees are payable at the end of your consultation.  The standard fee charged in this
surgical practice is the Australian Medical Association recommended fee.
This means that in most instances there will be a portion of your consultation fee, which will
not be covered by Medicare. The rebate from Medicare for eligible patients is $72.75 for the
first consultation and $36.55 for each subsequent consultation. We utilize Medicare easyclaim
which allows patients to receive there Medicare rebate on the spot at our surgery.
For more information on Medicare easy claim see the link below.

http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/provider/business/online/files/10058-1210en.pdf

Surgical fees

Surgeon

Fees for surgical procedures and operations in most instances are partially covered by Medicare
and your private health insurance. The standard fee charged in this office is the Australian
Medical Association recommended fee. Generally Medicare and your private health insurance
will pay for a substantial part of the surgical fee, but in many cases there will be a GAP.
A quote covering the proposed fees will be issued after you have discussed the details of the
procedure with Dr. Collins.

If there is a problem with these fees please discuss with our friendly staff who will help you
navigate your way through the informed financial consent. Depending on your family circumstances,
you may be eligible to claim a tax offset for the net medical expenses you have incurred.
For further information please see the link below

http://www.ato.gov.au/Individuals/Income-and-deductions/Offsets-you-can-claim/Medical-expenses/

Anaethetist

We will provide you’re the contact details for your anaethetist so a quote can be sought for their fees.

Surgical assistant

In some instances an assistant is required to perform your procedure.
The fee for the assistant is generally no more than 20% of the surgeons fees.

Other fees

These may include medications, blood tests, x-rays and anatomical pathology
(if a surgical specimen is sent to the pathologist).

If Acceptable means of payment

Bank cheque, personal cheque, cash or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA) are acceptable means
of payment. We do accept American Express cards but there is a 1.5% surcharge.

Private health insurance

Private Health insurance allows you and your family to access the right health services at the right time.
You have control of your health care and can choose the health care provider, facility and timing of
your treatment. With the security and protection of private health insurance, you have access to an
extensive range of private hospitals and can rest assured that your health is in good hands.

How can my family doctor help me to obtain specialist medical care?

Before seeing any medical specialist, it is always preferable to talk to your own family doctor,
who can discuss your condition with you and advise on whether any specialist care is appropriate.
If it is, he or she can help you to choose the specialist best suited to your needs.
Your family doctor can help the specialist to care for you better by providing relevant information
about your health. Communicating with the specialist will also enable your family doctor to care
for you better during and after your specialist treatment.