Whilst on medical accounts. I recently had a full ophthalmology examination by a local ophthalmologist in his rooms. Including a fundal scan.
Having noticed other places advertising the medicare benefit I queried when paying the account, as I noticed that an amount for $40 had been charged with a non-medicare claimable added.
I queried this and the receptionist looked up the medicare items and said that she would then check with the ophthalmologist.
Later I queried this whilst in Centrelink for another matter. Apparently the ophthalmologist can charge medicare rate or have it as a non-claimable. In this case the rebate is $30 and was charged $40.
I wondered why at the previous check he pressured me to have a fundus scan. I was seeing an opththalmologist monthly for OCT and macula injections, hence was able to refuse to have them on those grounds. Now I know why the pressure and wonder how many others just accept.
Alison
Urunga
Apologies if I might appear to be the word police, but a fundal scan is not the same as a fundus scan, hence some initial confusion until your last paragraph.
My previous optometry office did those every check up; I changed to a new provider and he has done them. Never a charge, always included. I am aware I have a minor and stable defect in one eye. My understanding is there are many problems where there is no treatment nor cure nor even a problem in a practical sense.
I have found the same discretionary tick or no-tick from a number of specialists. It seems arbitrary, or it could be related to their shareholdings in the labs they send patients to. I always look at scripts for medicines and especially lab work/x-rays and if the medicare box is not ticked I ask. I have never had a refusal.
Personal recognition of this seems related to how much time/visits are spent with specialists. Many of us just think ‘it is how it is’, but it really is not and questioning it is the right thing to do.
If I had your experience and there was a choice of providers, and the ‘offender’ was not brilliant and worth some extra dollars in your mind, I would be voting with my feet, after informing the office of why.
Just had another 2-eye look at the account. An OCT was also noted as not refundable which equalled $90 of non-refundable. It only costs $75 after rebate to see an ophthalmologist and have these done as part of the routine testings for glaucoma and macula. Be Warned.
