There is important information for our patients regarding our changes to fees which will be effective 11 April 2022. We will be introducing minor fees for pensioners, concession card holders, and children over 12 years old in order to continue providing our high quality services.
Why are these fees being introduced?
At our practice, we want to ensure that our services are accessible and affordable to as many patients as possible. For that reason, we have traditionally Bulk-Billed our services for consultations for:
Pensioners
Concession Card Holders
Children 18 and under
However, the amount paid by Medicare for Bulk-Billed services is significantly less than the true cost of service delivery. Not only does this undervalue the skills and training of our staff, but it does not allow us to continue providing the high quality services and standard of care that our patients deserve.
At Peregian Family Medical Centre, we aim to:
Remain privately owned and independent
Employ high quality, highly trained doctors
Employ skilled and knowledgeable nursing and administrative staff
Deliver the highest standards of care possible to our patients.
To achieve these aims, we will be introducing a discounted fee scheme, where pensioners, concession card holders and children 18 and under will pay a heavily discounted fee.
What are the new fees?
The new fees will apply from April 11 2022 for face-to-face or telephone consultations.
Consultation Item Fee Medicare Rebate Out of Pocket Fee
Short Item 3 32.90 17.90 $15.00
Standard Item 23 59.10 39.10 $20.00
Long Item 36 100.75 75.75 $25.00
How will the payment work?
The rules of the Medicare System require patients to pay the fee in full, and we will then claim the Medicare rebate for you on the spot. In under 24 hours, the rebate will be paid into your bank account. You will only need to pay the out of pocket fee, which is the difference between the full fee and the medicare rebate. You can read more about out of pocket costs here.
What if I am experiencing financial hardship?
We care about our patients and want to continue providing high quality services. If you are experiencing financial hardship, you are welcome to discuss this with your doctor during the consultation. Our doctors have the capacity to use discretion regarding fees. They will also be happy to explain these changes further in person, and answer any questions you have.
To learn more about these updated fees, please contact our friendly receptionists on 07 5471 2100.
Disclaimer
All information is general in nature. Patients should consider their own personal circumstances and seek a second opinion.
