Billing

Normal Hours

• Pensioners are bulk billed
• Health Care Cardholders receive a discounted fee
• Private fees to non card holders up to the AMA rate

Accounts staff will be able to tell you the cost of specific procedures.

After Hours

Bulk billing, pensioner or repat discounts are generally not accepted in A/H clinics, full fees apply. These generally apply to appointments made after 6.00 pm on a weeknight or for the Saturday night or Sunday clinics.

Visitors and itinerant patients are required to pay cash for the service.

Fees

Hawkins Clinic determines its own fee structure because of the inability of Medicare fees to keep pace with inflation.

Patients are encouraged to pay for all consults on the day. HIC online allows prompt lodgement of all Medicare services.

The practice uses Zedmed for appointments and billing.  The electronic waiting room is linked to Best Practice clinical software.

The doctor is responsible at all times to determine the fee they feel is appropriate for the individual patient. Patients are encouraged to discuss with their doctor any difficulty they may have in meeting the consultation fee.

Childhood Immunisation

Appointments for childhood immunisations only will be bulk billed.

Paediatric Walk in Clinic (under 5 yrs with recent onset illness)

Normal fees apply to the first consult for the walk in paediatric clinic however returns for reassessment for the same illness within 7 days will be bulk billed.

Non Attendance

Where a patient fails to cancel their appointment a non attendance fee can be charged. Patients with mobile phones are encouraged to register for a sms reminder which is generated from within our appointment software.

Repeat Prescriptions

Repeat prescriptions are normally charged at a nominal fee of $7.50. Patients who require their prescriptions written urgently on the same day are charged $10.00. Patient requests for prescriptions are sent to the doctor using Best Practice messaging system. This allows staff to link the request to the patient which allows the doctor to automatically open the correct patient. Details of the request are automatically entered into the progress notes.

Private Hospital Patients

Patient who have elected on admission to be treated privately can request their normal doctor provide care when they are available. The clinic duty doctor will continue this care during times when their normal doctor is unavailable. Private inpatients are charged HMC fees determined by the doctor. Charges for inpatient attendance must compare with a dated written note of attendance in the patient’s hospital record.