Our Billing Policy

General Practice Services

At our clinic, we charge a mix of bulk billing and private fees for appointments.

Here’s how it works for existing and new patients:

For Existing Patients:

• We bulk bill (no out-of-pocket costs) for:

  • Children under 16 years old

  • Pension and concession cardholders

  • Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) card holders (only for approved conditions)

  • Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander peoples

• If you are not one of these groups, a private fee will be charged for your appointment.

For New Patients:

• All new patients must pay a private fee for their first visit.

• The only exception is DVA Gold Card holders, who will be bulk billed.

Other Services:

• Some services do not attract a Medicare rebate and will have a private fee.

• All private fees must be paid on the day of your appointment.

• Allied health (i.e. Physiotherapy, Podiatry) and specialty services (i.e Psychiatry or Dietician) usually have private fees unless you are on a care plan where the healthcare providers have agreed to bulk bill.

If you have any questions or need more information, please talk to one of our team members. We will be glad to explain things.

Allied Health and Other Clinical Specialty Services

Private fees are payable for all allied health and other clinical specialty services except where a provider has agreed to bulk bill patients under a formal health care plan.

Fees as of 1 September 2024

Medicare Rebatable General Practice Consultations

* Additional fees may apply when a new patient requires care other than a standard consultation.

Follow-Up Consultation Fees

At Palmerston GP Super Clinic, we want to ensure you know how much we charge for follow-up consultations. Follow-up consultations attract a reduced fee of $75, and a Medicare rebate of $19.60 applies. Here's when you might need to pay a follow-up fee:

• More Than One Referral or Test Needed
  If your follow-up appointment involves two or more things, like referrals or getting blood tests or x-rays, there may be a follow-up fee.

• New Health Needs
  A new health problem during your follow-up appointment may be treated as part of the consultation and may have an additional fee.

• Longer Appointments
  Follow-up consultations that last longer than 10 minutes may also have a follow-up fee.

However, we know everyone’s situation is different, and your doctor may choose to bulk bill (at no cost to you) for follow-up appointments, depending on your circumstances.

If you have any questions or need more details, please ask our friendly reception team for help.

Excisions and Suturing

Excisions and Suturing procedures attract the following out of pocket charges:

Excisions: $80.00

Suturing: $50.00

Treatment Room Fee - nurse only consult

For services delivered by one of our Practice Nurses a treatment room fee of $60.00 will apply. There is no Medicare rebate for this service and payment prior to service will be required.

Women’s Health Check - Women’s Health Practice Nurse

30 - 45 minute health check: $70.00

There is no Medicare rebate for this service and payment prior to service will be required.

Vaccination Clinic

Our Practice Nurses have all completed the Northern Territory’s ‘About Giving Vaccines’ training program and are able to provide a vaccination service to patients.

For patients who are not eligible to receive vaccines free of charge under the Department of Health National Vaccination Program, recommended vaccines area able to be purchased from our service and administered by one of our nursing team.

There is no Medicare Rebate available for this service.

*In addition to the cost of the vaccine, a treatment room fee of $20 applies.

Private Allied Health and Other Clinical Specialties

If you hold private health insurance you may be entitled to a rebate on some of the following services. Please check directly with your private health insurance provider.

You may also be eligible for a Chronic Disease or Mental Health Care Plan and able to claim a Medicare rebate on some of the following services. If you’d like to know more about either plan, please speak to your usual GP.

Podiatry

Initial Consultation

Initial Consultation - Concession

Follow Up Consultation - Concession

Follow Up Consultation

Follow Up Consultation - Extended

$85.00

$75.00

$65.00

$75.00

$89.00

Physiotherapy

Dietician Services

More information can be found about these services on the Darwin Nutrition website.

Psychology

Fees to see a psychologist privately range from $200 - $260 per session.

Missed Appointment Policy

At Palmerston GP Super Clinic, we are committed to providing high-quality care to all our patients. We understand that unexpected things happen, but missed appointments can affect our ability to serve others. We have a policy regarding missed appointments to ensure fair and efficient care.

Why We Have This Policy

• When an appointment is missed without notice, it prevents us from offering that time to another patient who may need medical attention.

• Missed appointments also impact our scheduling and clinic operations, which affects our overall ability to care for our community.

Important Information:

• Please let us know if you need to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment. This allows us to offer the time to another patient in need.

• If you miss your appointment or cancel with less than 24 hours notice, a missed appointment fee may be charged. This fee is not covered by Medicare and must be paid directly to the clinic.

• We understand that emergencies happen. If you miss your appointment due to an emergency, please contact us as soon as possible. Under certain circumstances, we may be able to waive the fee.

How You Can Help

• Set reminders for your appointments to ensure you don't forget.

• Contact us immediately if you need to change your appointment.

 We value your understanding and cooperation in helping us provide the best care to everyone. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call Palmerston GP Super Clinic. We are here to support you!