My practice is happy to offer potential new weight loss patients a free consultation with Shirley Lockie, my perioperative nurse surgical assistant and practice clinical coordinator.
Medicare stipulates that for a specialist appointment, a patient must have a referral from a general practitioner to obtain a Medicare rebate. If you do not have a referral, you will not obtain your rebate. We are happy for you to make an appointment and for your general practitioner to then fax through a referral prior to your appointment date.
Medicare does not completely cover the costs of your consultation as set by the Australian Medical Association.
For this reason modest GAP payments are charged for all consultations.
The cost of all procedures will be discussed beforehand and you will receive a written quotation. What to bring to your first appointment
As there are currently less than 100 weight loss procedures performed in the public sector in Queensland, the majority of patients requiring the surgery will have it performed as a private patient. As such we would encourage all patients to consider taking out private health cover to assist with the costs of their surgery, in particular having private health cover will assist with any additional surgical procedures or intensive care stay that might be required due to unforeseen complications.
Obviously, patients taking out new private health cover will be required by the insurance companies to wait 12 months prior to having their surgery. As a practice, we are happy to provide a dietician and psychologist in the last few months running up to surgery, for those patients who are waiting for their private health cover to commence.
Alternatives to private health cover includes utilising super funds to pay for surgery or using a specialist financing company. My rooms will be happy to provide you with information or alternatively you can find more information on accessing super funds at www.apra.gov.au, and about credit financing at www.mediplan.com.au