Southern Vascular Fees 2010/2011 – Overview
The aim of the practice is to provide an individualised service for each patient. To provide this, we have set a scale of fees (the practice fee for our activities).
Consultations
This is a standard fee for initial and review consultations. There is a discount for pensioner consultation appointments.
Initial Consultation Information Letter for Patient (245KB PDF)
Rebate Consultations
These are provided after outpatient venous procedures and in some surgical settings for many patients. Disadvantaged patients can be rebated on request of Mr Self.
Second Opinions
Patients requiring a second opinion, please identify yourself as such when you make a booking. This will allow the staff to ensure there is adequate time because the consultation is usually longer. A slightly higher fee applies.
Angiography and Endovascular Procedures
These are generally done for a Gap Cover or Easy Claim amount; with a patient co-payment of $0 - $275.00.
Open Surgery
The fee for these is higher than the schedule fee and generally lower than the AMA recommended fee. In some cases Gap Cover or Easy Claim can be applied. In other cases, the funds will not allow this. Gaps could be several $100.00 to $2200.00. The gap represents the time required for the procedure, whether a complex open arterial case or a prolonged venous surgery case.
Venous Procedures (Sclerotherapy and Laser Venous Treatment)
These are outpatient procedures and there is no private health insurance rebate allowed by Government legislation. There is often a rebate under Medicare for sclerotherapy (CMBS item 32500)
Gold Card Holders
The Gold Card is accepted in full payment except for outpatient venous procedures for which the DVA pay little or nothing. Support stockings cannot be claimed from DVA. Endevenous Laser Therapy may be rebated only after specific written application to DVA.
Workcover and TAC Patients
Consultations and investigations can be arranged. A patient co-payment applies. Angiography and surgery are covered with no patient co-payment. Outpatient venous procedures require prior authorisation and these are sometimes covered by Workcover and rarely by TAC.
Health Care Card Holders
No routine discount is available. In cases of specific hardship, patients need to speak to Mr Self’s staff well before the time of their procedure.
Informed Financial Consent
It is our aim to provide a cost estimate for all procedures well in advance of surgery. If the traditional procedures are required, they will generally then be billed to you or the fund with minimal out of pocket expense. You still may incur a hospital excess. We request patients to sign and return the financial consent form well before surgery i.e. at least two weeks before.
Assistant
The Assistant’s fee is generally 20% of the surgeon’s fee and we can therefore indicate that amount to you.
Anaesthetist
The Anaesthetist’s fees are his own concern and I am not at liberty to discuss them with him (ACCC). We can provide his/her name and you can speak to his office. Generally Anaesthetists are less well paid for some surgical procedures than surgeons and more well paid for some angiographic procedures, in my experience. Hence anaesthesia patient co-payments are higher for operations and less for angiographic procedures.
Non Insured Patients
These can be seen in the rooms and investigated and incur practice consultation fees along the usual guidelines. Surgery can sometimes be arranged privately and we can provide a cost estimate. Surgery can be arranged publicly and we can arrange for patients to enter themselves on a public hospital waiting list (times, location and surgeon may vary). Non insured patients are not disadvantaged as regards outpatient venous procedures compared with insured patients and we treat many patients this way if they agree.
These are general comments meant to give the patient a view into our style of practice. If there are any problems, please make sure that we discuss them in person well in advance of any procedure.