CLINIC INFORMATION:
Fees UPDATED from 01/07/2024
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Why are fee changes necessary? Successive governments have failed to regularly increase Medicare rebates. This means that rebates (which is the amount your GP gets paid when you are Bulk Billed) have not kept pace with the healthcare delivery costs, to enable us to continue to deliver the quality of medical care you receive at the Family Health Clinic, nor has it kept up with cost living increases since inception of Medicare. The costs of running our clinic have gone up between 15-20% over the last 12 months alone, and the medicare rebate to us has gone up by 1.8% ONLY. This makes bulk billing no longer viable. The Family Health Clinic is not immune to price increases in insurance, wages, electricity, medical equipment, medical supplies, rent, cleaning costs etc. These costs have been absorbed by the clinic for the many years and unfortunately cannot be sustained any longer. To ensure that we can continue to provide you with exceptional quality healthcare, and cover our operational costs, we are unfortunately forced to set GAP fees for our consultations. What does this mean for you? All consultations to eligible Medicare card holders who also hold either, Concession Cards (Pension, Healthcare card only), DVA cards and Children under 16 will be Bulk Billed. For Pensioners and current eligible Concessional Health Care Card holders, there will be NO change. As difficult as it is we will continue to bulk bill you. Unfortunately for other patients who do not hold a current eligible concession card, there will be a nominal GAP Fee. We aim to keep any fee increase to a minimum, so you can continue receiving affordable healthcare. All other patients will need to pay the full consult fee including the Gap as shown below, at the time of your appointment, and the Medicare rebate will then be processed immediately at the time of payment, and you will be refunded in full electronically from Medicare the rebate amount, leaving only a $25 GAP / out of pocket expense before you leave the Clinic. |
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If you require any additional information, please talk to our amazing Reception staff, or our Practice Manager.
We trust you will understand the reasons behind these nominal fee changes, to help us keep our practice sustainable, pay our ever-rising overheads, employ our amazing staff and Doctors.
We trust you will understand the reasons behind these nominal fee changes, to help us keep our practice sustainable, pay our ever-rising overheads, employ our amazing staff and Doctors.
SATURDAY FEES:
Our Clinic continues to provide services on Saturdays for our patients, who require care on the weekend. Unfortunately the cost of staffing on Saturdays is extremely high, including a loading of 75% over and above the standard award rates, plus with the wage increases of 3.5% from the 1st of July and further increase increase in superannuation of and extra 0.5%. This makes bulk billing and standard Gap fees of $25 no longer sustainable, or affordable to the Clinic for Saturdays.
Moving forward Saturday consultation fees will change from the 1st of August 2024. Consultations will no longer be Bulk billed even for concession card holders, and there will be a $45 gap fee across the board, to allow us to continue providing services on a Saturday.
Our Clinic continues to provide services on Saturdays for our patients, who require care on the weekend. Unfortunately the cost of staffing on Saturdays is extremely high, including a loading of 75% over and above the standard award rates, plus with the wage increases of 3.5% from the 1st of July and further increase increase in superannuation of and extra 0.5%. This makes bulk billing and standard Gap fees of $25 no longer sustainable, or affordable to the Clinic for Saturdays.
Moving forward Saturday consultation fees will change from the 1st of August 2024. Consultations will no longer be Bulk billed even for concession card holders, and there will be a $45 gap fee across the board, to allow us to continue providing services on a Saturday.
Non Medicare card holder will be billed at our private fee rates which are available at our clinic. These fees vary and are charged on time based consultations.
All non-Medicare funded vaccinations are also billed privately.
Medicals for commercial licenses (Truck, Bus driver etc), Insurance forms and reports cannot be Medicare billed will be charged accordingly.
Kindly check and confirm the fee estimate at the time of your appointment booking. All non Medicare fees are payable at the time of your consultation.
All non-Medicare funded vaccinations are also billed privately.
Medicals for commercial licenses (Truck, Bus driver etc), Insurance forms and reports cannot be Medicare billed will be charged accordingly.
Kindly check and confirm the fee estimate at the time of your appointment booking. All non Medicare fees are payable at the time of your consultation.
Appointment Info
Appointments are normally made at 15 minute intervals. If you feel that you may need a longer appointment for a complex medical problem please advise our staff when making your appointment.
Long appointments are not to deal with a list of multiple medical conditions. If you have multiple problems your doctor may deal with the more urgent condition and re-schedule others for another consultation. This allows you to get the best possible care and time dedicated for each condition.
If you are seeing the doctor to complete Centrelink forms, insurance medicals, driver license medicals or for any procedure, please advise the staff when you make the appointment as these visits require a longer appointment and may require the practice nurse and or treatment room to be available as well. Also provide the forms to the receptionist when you arrive for the appointment.
The doctor will make every attempt to keep to your appointment time, however due to emergencies there may be some delay at times. This could happen as a result of an acutely ill patient or injury, which is outside our control.
We will attempt to fit in emergencies such as an accident at work or home or sudden illness. However in certain life threatening circumstances such as a severe injury or sudden severe chest pain it is best to call an Ambulance at 000 immediately.
Each day we keep aside a few appointments to fit in patients with urgent problems.
You are welcome to ring the clinic prior to your appointment to find out if we are running on schedule.
Kindly call the clinic to cancel your appointment if you are unable to keep the appointment for any reason, and this will allow another patient to be given an appointment to see a Doctor.
It is in your interest to consult the doctor on a more regular basis for individual complaints and advice, rather than accumulating several problems and presenting with a list. The doctor in this case may not be able to address all the issues.
Separate appointments are preferred for skin checks and cervical screening tests, care plans and travel immunisation advice, rather than trying to get these done during a standard consultation for other problems.
Long appointments are not to deal with a list of multiple medical conditions. If you have multiple problems your doctor may deal with the more urgent condition and re-schedule others for another consultation. This allows you to get the best possible care and time dedicated for each condition.
If you are seeing the doctor to complete Centrelink forms, insurance medicals, driver license medicals or for any procedure, please advise the staff when you make the appointment as these visits require a longer appointment and may require the practice nurse and or treatment room to be available as well. Also provide the forms to the receptionist when you arrive for the appointment.
The doctor will make every attempt to keep to your appointment time, however due to emergencies there may be some delay at times. This could happen as a result of an acutely ill patient or injury, which is outside our control.
We will attempt to fit in emergencies such as an accident at work or home or sudden illness. However in certain life threatening circumstances such as a severe injury or sudden severe chest pain it is best to call an Ambulance at 000 immediately.
Each day we keep aside a few appointments to fit in patients with urgent problems.
You are welcome to ring the clinic prior to your appointment to find out if we are running on schedule.
Kindly call the clinic to cancel your appointment if you are unable to keep the appointment for any reason, and this will allow another patient to be given an appointment to see a Doctor.
It is in your interest to consult the doctor on a more regular basis for individual complaints and advice, rather than accumulating several problems and presenting with a list. The doctor in this case may not be able to address all the issues.
Separate appointments are preferred for skin checks and cervical screening tests, care plans and travel immunisation advice, rather than trying to get these done during a standard consultation for other problems.
After-hour Service
For ANY life threatening emergency call 000 or go to the nearest hospital.
The Doctors in Gatton share a roster for after hour urgent medical attention. After 5pm please call 07 3830 5730 and leave a message.
This is a paging service where your details will be taken and the doctor on call will contact you directly.
All After-hour visits are not bulk-billed and you will be required to pay the full fee at the time of the consultation and claim the medicare rebate.
The Lockyer Doctors (07 5462 2255) is open on Sundays and public holidays 8:30-5:00pm for urgent medical care only.
The Doctors in Gatton share a roster for after hour urgent medical attention. After 5pm please call 07 3830 5730 and leave a message.
This is a paging service where your details will be taken and the doctor on call will contact you directly.
All After-hour visits are not bulk-billed and you will be required to pay the full fee at the time of the consultation and claim the medicare rebate.
The Lockyer Doctors (07 5462 2255) is open on Sundays and public holidays 8:30-5:00pm for urgent medical care only.
Calling the Doctor
Patients wishing to talk to the doctor should advise the staff as to the purpose of the call. These calls are handled accordingly.
You may have to call back or the doctor may return your call at a more convenient time, usually at the end of the day.
Your call may even be directed to the Practice Nurse if appropriate.
You may have to call back or the doctor may return your call at a more convenient time, usually at the end of the day.
Your call may even be directed to the Practice Nurse if appropriate.
Out of Clinic visits
Home visits for our regular patients within the Gatton area will be done if you are extremely ill and cannot attend the clinic. At times this may not be the best option if you are very unwell and it may be best to call and Ambulance and be taken to the nearest hospital.
Regular visits are also done for our patients at the Regis and Amaroo Nursing Homes in Gatton.
Regular visits are also done for our patients at the Regis and Amaroo Nursing Homes in Gatton.
Disability Services
There is a rear access available for patients in wheelchairs or with impaired mobility. The patient toilets located within the clinic are large enough for wheelchair access.
Should you have any special needs please discuss these with the practice staff at the time of making your appointment.
The clinic's new extension also has wheelchair access off the main street, and we have approval for new disabled car parks at the front of the clinic, expecting to be done by LVRC in the latter half of 2019.
Should you have any special needs please discuss these with the practice staff at the time of making your appointment.
The clinic's new extension also has wheelchair access off the main street, and we have approval for new disabled car parks at the front of the clinic, expecting to be done by LVRC in the latter half of 2019.
Hospital Access
Gatton has a small Public Hospital in William Street, for minor medical problems and admissions.
Patients requiring public hospital referral will be referred to the Toowoomba General Hospital or the Ipswich General Hospital, and private health funded patients may be referred to St Vincents or St Andrews Hospitals in Toowoomba or any other hospital of your choice.
Referrals to specialists and hospitals in Brisbane may be made if required.
Patients requiring public hospital referral will be referred to the Toowoomba General Hospital or the Ipswich General Hospital, and private health funded patients may be referred to St Vincents or St Andrews Hospitals in Toowoomba or any other hospital of your choice.
Referrals to specialists and hospitals in Brisbane may be made if required.
Your rights
If you are unhappy with any aspect of your treatment from our practice please feel free to contact the Practice Manager or talk to your Doctor. Every attempt will be made to resolve and deal with your concerns.
If you are still not satisfied with any outcome after this, then you may contact the Ombudsman at the Health Quality & Complaints Commission at GPO Box 3089 Brisbane 4001 or phone 1800 077 308.
If you are still not satisfied with any outcome after this, then you may contact the Ombudsman at the Health Quality & Complaints Commission at GPO Box 3089 Brisbane 4001 or phone 1800 077 308.
Your Responsibilities
Our clinic policy is that ALL patients who are referred for any tests (Blood, X-ray) are requested to return to discuss these test results as requested or telephone the receptionist if advised to do so. It is the responsibility of the PATIENT to return as advised for follow up.
Every patient having any procedure MUST return for follow up for wound review and results review.
It is not the Clinic policy to call patients with normal results.
Following any consultation should your condition change or deteriorate you MUST return to the clinic or present to the nearest hospital to be reviewed urgently.
Should you be referred to a hospital for acute care as per the Doctors advice, then you must present to the Hospital on the same day.
Patients referred to a Specialist at a Public Hospital for non-urgent care MUST contact the Clinic if they have not received feedback form the Hospital within 30 days.
If you have been referred to a private specialist, it is your responsibility to ensure that you call and make that appointment. If for any reason you are unable to obtain an appointment with the specialist, you must contact the Clinic and advise us so that alternate referrals may be considered.
Every patient having any procedure MUST return for follow up for wound review and results review.
It is not the Clinic policy to call patients with normal results.
Following any consultation should your condition change or deteriorate you MUST return to the clinic or present to the nearest hospital to be reviewed urgently.
Should you be referred to a hospital for acute care as per the Doctors advice, then you must present to the Hospital on the same day.
Patients referred to a Specialist at a Public Hospital for non-urgent care MUST contact the Clinic if they have not received feedback form the Hospital within 30 days.
If you have been referred to a private specialist, it is your responsibility to ensure that you call and make that appointment. If for any reason you are unable to obtain an appointment with the specialist, you must contact the Clinic and advise us so that alternate referrals may be considered.
Services offered
- Adult & Child Health
- Childhood Immunisations
- Q fever vaccinations
- Anti-D immunisations in pregnancy
- Cortisone injections into Shoulder
- Acupuncture
- Iron infusions
- Asthma Care Plans
- Mental Healthcare Plans
- Men's Health, Erectile problems
- Women’s Health
- Contraceptive advice
- Hormone implants including Implanon
- Workcover injuries treated
- ECG’s (Electrocardiograms)
- Spirometry (Lung Function Tests)
- Flu & Pneumonia Immunisations
- Annual Health Assessments
- Travel Advice & Immunisations
- Gardasil Immunisation
- Ear Syringing
- Skin cancer checks
- Removal of skin cancers and lumps
- Antenatal Care (Pregnancy)
- Cervical Screening Tests
- Commercial Driver Licence Medical
- Truck Driver Fatigue Medicals
- Pre-employment Medicals
- 45-49 year old Health Assessments
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BUPA Overseas Student Health Cover
Our Clinic accepts BUPA OHSC card and will bill directly to BUPA when you consult one of our Doctors.
Bupa’s OSHC membership provides cover for hospital and medical treatment. Each doctor or specialist that treats you will charge a fee for the service they provide. This also includes most tests you may be sent to have by your doctor including pathology and radiology services |
