FROM JULY 1ST 2022 – Health First Medical Group introduce an annual service fee for all patients for their first consultation after each financial year. This private consultation fee charged regardless of age, pension status or any bulk billing agreement.
Unfortunately, this is unavoidable due to the impact of the Medicare freeze and the lack of increased Medicare rebates from the 1st July, 2022. This fee will ensure the team at Health First Medical can continue to uphold our high standard of patient care now and into the future.
We thank you for your ongoing support and encourage you to discuss this with your doctor if you have further concerns.
Health First Medical Group is a private practice. Payment in full is required on the day of your consultation and can be paid via cash, cheque or EFTPOS.
Medicare services are submitted online, and rebates are reimbursed immediately via TYRO or within 48 hours to your bank account registered with Medicare.
If you have not registered your bank account details with Medicare, please visit the Medicare website on www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/online
All Health First Doctors operate independently and bill at their own discretion.
The following is a guide to our current fee schedule and is based on the AMA rates. Fees vary for each Doctor, please see their individual profiles for further billing information.
Fees from 7th August 2023 are as follows: (Fees vary according to the complexity of service)
| Service | Private Fee | Medicare Rebate |
| Standard Consultation | $ 96.20 | $ 41.20 |
| Long Consultation | $ 160.00 | $ 79.70 |
| Extended Consultation | $ 240.00 | $ 117.40 |
| Standard Telehealth | $ 96.20 | $ 41.20 |
| Saturday Standard Consultation | $ 96.20 | $ 41.20 |
| Saturday Long Consultation | $ 160.00 | $79.70 |
| Mental Health Plan | $ 180.00 | $ 99.70 |
| Review Mental Health Plan | $133.55 | $78.55 |
| Procedure Fee | $ 100.00 – $ 150.00 | No Rebate |
| Script Fee | $ 15.00 – $20.00 | No Rebate |
- Children under the age of 16 are BULK BILLED for consultations except on weekends.
- Childhood immunisations, Care Plans, Care Plan Reviews & Health Assessments are BULK BILLED for ALL patients.
- Saturday morning consultations are NOT bulk billed. ALL patients incur an out-of-pocket fee.
- Surgical procedures for ALL patients incur an out-of-pocket $100-150 procedure fee.
- Iron infusions for ALL patients will be charged an out-of-pocket expense of $150 plus a consultation fee.
- Private vaccines, Travel consultation and vaccinations, Theatre procedures and dressings incur an out-of-pocket fee for ALL patients.
- For any patient experiencing financial hardship – please discuss this with your GP at the time of your consultation.
Cancellations and Non-Attendances
If you cancel without adequate notice, or fail to attend an appointment, a non-attendance fee of $50.00 is charged. Failure to attend an initial consultation (New Patients) will result in a non-attendance fee of $160.00.
Other Fees
There may be out of pocket costs for patients when referred to other service providers, eg specialists. If in doubt, always discuss this with your GP and/or the service you have been referred to.
Health First is dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our patients. As such, we have 10 and 15 minute standard appointments. If you would like more time with any of our GP’s, or need to discuss several issues, including WorkCover and TAC, please let our reception staff know, and we can book a longer appointment for you.
To make an appointment please phone our reception staff on 03 5331 4341, Monday to Friday: 8.30 – 5.30pm, and Saturday 9-12pm. Online booking via Automed is also available.
If you have a life threatening emergency, please ring 000 for an ambulance. For after hours care please phone 5331 4341 for the recorded contact information.
All patient information is stored securely according to the Privacy Act. Patient information will only be released with your expressed written consent. A copy of the Privacy Policy is available at reception or you can read it online here
From time to time this practice participates in non-identifying research projects, if you do not wish that the practice uses any of your information, please discuss this with your Doctor.
We encourage patients to request all their prescriptions during their consultation. Some of our Doctors currently have Bulk bulling Telehealth prescription appointments available each day, where the Doctor will call you and send your script to a pharmacy, if these are unavailable telephone requests for repeat prescriptions will incur the following fees:
< 24-hour notice: $20.00
> 24-hour notice: $15.00
All test results are reviewed by your GP. You will be notified by our administration staff if a follow up appointment is required, and all results can be discussed further at your next appointment. Test results are not given over the phone.
All procedures will need to be discussed with your GP, and may require a longer appointment. If a procedure is required, please let our administration staff know when calling.
Theatre procedures are done in our minor procedure room using local anaesthetic. Most procedures are sent to Pathology for analysis. All Theatre procedures incur a fee for the use of theatre/sterilisation of $100.00 – $150.00.
All medical certificates must be obtained during your appointment. Medical certificates cannot be completed without seeing your Doctor.
Clinical Labs have an onsite collection centre on Monday to Friday from 8:30 – 4:30pm.