The ophthalmologist I see every 9 months accepts an indefinite referral, only requiring a new one on change of GP. I have been seeing her for several years now and have only paid one initial consultation fee. I have no problem with my Medicare rebate being paid. Depending on the tests performed before I see her I can be out of pocket around $80 or so
When I rang around for a specialist I could afford I thought this was âthe bestâ I heard from a doctorâs secretary. ⊠we just take your credit card details and when we know the total cost after your operation we charge that amount to your credit cardâŠI am not joking or exaggerating. Needless to say I kept ringing around until I found a specialist who was prepared to give a firm quote and put it in writing.
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An interesting article about the costs of Specialists:
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Along the same lines, I once saw a lung specialist for COPD. Tests showed lung damage from emphysema. He stressed that there was nothing that could be done â lung tissue didnât regrow â charged me whatever his fee was (it was so long ago I donât remember how much, but it wasnât cheap) but then wanted me to go back for a follow-up consultation. Why, for heavenâs sake? On his own admission there was no treatment available and there was going to be no improvement, so why would I need to go back just to be given the same advice again?
Then, when I didnât bother going back, he got shirty about that fact with my GP. I confess I had a feeling at the time that he might have been a bit of a rip-off merchant, and I felt vindicated when my GP told me, with a grin, about this personâs reaction.
By the way, the link that Grahroll just posted is well worth reading.
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My dermatologist does this too. I assume this is why I have had to have a current GP referral each time as wellâŠ
Further to my email above, I did see the other ophthalmologist and what a difference. There was no issue about being presented with an ongoing referral and I only ended up out of pocked by about $80 on a bill of $320. No prizes for guessing which ophthalmologist Iâll be seeing in the future.
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My specialist is free but my gp has so far refused a permanent referal for a chronic kidney problem. The gp is not adding any value just collecting a donation to his retirement fund. Ok its only once year but indicative of how medicine is practised by him.
I am going in for minor day surgery later today. I have had to fight to find out what the charge will be. It is not stated in the letter they sent (only received yesterday) and when I called, to check a few days ago, was told it was in the quote I received. I advised them that I received no quote, but was told I had, in 2014. âand the cost will have gone up a bit since then, so just check your quoteâ
I called back to speak to another receptionist and she emailed me the cost ($350.00) and told me that it had to be paid in person or on the phone, since they did not go through the hospital. Additionally, I would have to claim the Medicare and health fund portion myself.
The health fund I am happy to claim, but the medicare? Why canât they do this? We work in an Allied health profession and the medicare portion we claim. It goes through our eftpos machine, or as a bulk item, with all patients for the day, online. They have to be registered for a provider number, so it is not a leap to expect them to refund my Medicare portion.
I would have loved to negotiate, but I have have taken time off specially for this. The admin has been a disaster and I intend telling the specialist when I finally see him. I havenât seen him since 2014. And i suppose that is the real reason we put up with this behaviour. Time poor, or stress related to medical issues, or a combination, puts people in a poor negotiating position. I am also aware that this surgeon is one of the better ones in his field.
It is one of the things I will fight for with our patients and we discuss options with them, advising where they can see a good specialist who bulk bills, or a good one that charges, but is regarded as worthwhile seeing. I have insisted that we no longer refer to a particular specialist, as he will only see public patients if they join a 12 month waiting list.
