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No, but without a referral you may be unable to claim a rebate on your initial and subsequent consultation fees.

Medicare Australia dictate that a rebate is only available for certain medical services when a referral is obtained prior to the service or consultation.

International travellers and students may also require a referral to claim a rebate for any medical service or consultation provided by their dermatologist.

A referral from your doctor will provide your dermatologist a detailed medical reason for the investigation, opinion, treatment or management of your condition or problem. Your referral may also include:

• Personal and contact information.
• Medical history, including past and current conditions.
• Medication and allergy history.
• Diagnostic test results.

Your dermatologist will contact your referring doctor and keep them updated with your diagnosis, ongoing treatments and medication. 

Your dermatologist requires at least 24 hours' notice if you are unable to keep your scheduled appointment.

If you do not provide sufficient notice, a $75 non-attendance fee may be charged to your account and a prepayment required for your next appointment.

Your notice can be relayed to our clinic by one of the following means, at least 24 hours' before your appointment:

• Sending an email to info@gsderm.com.au.
• Replying N or NO to our courtesy SMS reminder message.
• Calling us on (02) 9226 9600 and leaving a voicemail message.

If you are unable to attend your appointment due to sudden onset illness, a copy of your medical certificate or other evidence may be required to waive any non-attendance fee.

Fees for consultations, surgical procedures and treatments are determined by the dermatologist you choose to see.

All fees are subject to change and variation, dependent on the complexity of treatment, complications encountered or at the discretion of the dermatologist.

During your consultation you may ask your dermatologist for a financial estimate detailing the cost of any surgical procedure or treatment, before it is performed. 

As of 8th February 2021, our consultation fees during a single course of treatment are:

• $260.00 - Initial consultation in a single course of treatment.
• $160.00 - Subsequent consultation in a single course of treatment.

The most common medical services performed during a single course of treatment are:

• Diagnostic biopsy (+$145)
• Solar keratosis cryotherapy (+$140)
• Hydrocortisone injections (+$120)
• Axillary hyperhidrosis injections (+$650)

Refer to the following articles for more information :

• Informed financial consent statement,
• Fee concession statement,
• Pathology service cost statement,
• Financial estimate statement

This is the investigation, opinion, treatment or management of a single condition or problem.

Your referral will cover a single course of treatment for the referred condition.

A single course of treatment is an initial consultation by the dermatologist. The single course of treatment includes subsequent consultations for the continuing management of your condition, until your are referred back to the referring practitioner.

A new referral doesn’t always mean a new course of treatment. If your new referral is for the continuing management of a condition, the dermatologist will bill a subsequent consultation. However, an initial consultation will be billed again if:

1. Your referring practitioner decides your condition needs to be reviewed, and
2. You are seen by the dermatologist after the expiry of the last referral, and
3. You were last seen by the dermatologist more than 9 months earlier.

If you have a new or unrelated condition then the dermatologist can start a new course of treatment, which may require a new referral or additional cost.

Contact our clinic as soon as possible on (02) 9226 9600.

If you have a post-surgical or treatment complication, then call our clinic as soon as possible. Our staff will book you in with our clinic nurse for immediate after-care and evaluation.

If our clinic is closed and you feel your condition is very urgent or a medical emergency, then go directly to your local general practitioner (GP), hospital Emergency Department or contact the after-hours GP helpline on 1800 022 222.

Yes, but some restrictions apply. Medicare rebates are available for all our medical services listed under the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

To be eligible to claim a Medicare rebate on medical and surgical services you must:

1. Be enrolled in Medicare; and
2. Have a current Medicare card.

Cosmetic services, such as anti-wrinkle and dermal injectables, are not covered by Medicare.

You may also claim a rebate on your consultations with the dermatologist, if you have a valid referral for specialist treatment from your general practitioner (GP) or another specialist.

The current Medicare rebate, during an single course of treatment, is $75.05 for an initial attendance or $38.25 for a subsequent attendance. Rebates for other medical and surgical services vary, but can be found on the Department of Health MBS website.

A patient may incur a charge, in additional to the dermatologist's fees, by a pathology service provider for the testing and analysis of tissue, blood and swab samples collected.  

The analysis of tissue, blood and swab samples help a dermatologist find evidence of disease, diagnose illnesses, predict recovery times, or help monitor a condition or medication.

Third-party pathology service costs.

Pathology service providers charge an additional, independent fee for the testing and analysis of patient pathology samples. The pathology service provider's fees are independent of the dermatologist's fee for performing a patient biopsy or excision.

The additional fee charged by pathology service providers and vary and range from $200 up to $2000, depending on the complexity of testing and analysis involved.

Patients may be contacted and billed directly by the pathology service provider. If the patient is covered by Medicare Australia or a private health insurance provider, then the pathology service provider may bill these insurance entities directly on behalf of the patient.

Costs covered under Medicare Australia or private health insurance.

A dermatologist will typically request that the pathology provider bulk-bill services for patients who are registered with Medicare Australia.

Each pathology service provider sets their own fees and may not bulk-bill some services, depending on the complexity of the testing and analysis involved.

Medicare does not cover the costs of tests done for cosmetic surgery, insurance testing, or several genetic tests. There are also limits on the number of times that a patient can receive a Medicare rebate for some tests. Currently, there are 5,700 diagnostic services paid for by Medicare, listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS).

Patients that require a many tests may be eligible for the Medicare Safety Net. This means that a patient can get a higher rebate from Medicare for diagnostic tests and other medical services to reduce any out-of-pocket expenses incurred.

Private health insurance may pay for diagnostic tests done while a patient is in hospital, but generally will not cover diagnostic tests that are done outside a hospital and that are listed on the MBS. Patients should check with their insurance provider to determine their level of coverage.

Determining additional third-party pathology costs.

Patients can contact the pathology provider directly to discuss the costs associated with the pathology test specific to their situation. The pathology provider may request information about a patient's Medicare enrollment or private health insurance to determine costs.

Preferred pathology service provider.

The preferred pathology provider used by Green Square Dermatology is Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology.

Patients are entitled to choose a different pathology provider from the one recommended by their dermatologist, so long as the pathology provider can perform the test they require.

A patient who wish to use another pathology provider must let their dermatologist dermatologist know prior to any tissue, blood or swab sample being taken.

Our medical practice may vary policies from time to time and without notice. A patient may request information about policy changes or view them on our website. gsdermatology.com.au/policy

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus. Patients and visitors are required to wear a face mask while attending our medical clinic, where practical.

Compliance.

To reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection, all patients and visitors over the age of 12 must wear a face mask while in the clinic and follow accepted NSW government general advice on wearing face masks.

Patients that do not have a face mask available will be provided with a free, single-use face mask to wear.

Patients who choose not to wear a face mask within our medical clinic must notify reception staff immediately. In the interest of safety, patient treatment may be delayed, declined or rescheduled, at the discretion of the dermatologist or clinic nurse.

Hygiene.

When a patient handles or wears a mask, they should:

• Wash or sanitise hands before putting on the mask;
• Make sure it covers the nose and mouth and fits snugly under the chin, over the bridge of the nose and against the sides of the face;
• Not touch the front of the mask while wearing it or when removing it. Those who do touch the mask should wash or sanitise their hands immediately. Do not allow the mask to hang around the neck;
• Wash or sanitise their hands after removing the mask.

Exceptions. 

Patients with chronic respiratory conditions should seek medical advice before using a mask.

The wearing of face masks is optional for children aged 12 or younger.

Our medical practice may vary policies from time to time and without notice. A patient may request information about policy changes or view them on our website. gsdermatology.com.au/policy