FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT REFERRALS AND PAYMENT.
Q. Can I pay by EFTPOS?
A. Yes. You can pay with cash, cheque, credit card (VISA, Master card, Amex) or direct debit card. However, you cannot withdraw cash from us.
Q. Can I claim for physiotherapy treatment from a private health insurance fund?
A. Physiotherapy treatment is claimable from all health insurance funds if you have extras cover. Some funds have specifically selected physiotherapy as an extras option. Most funds also cover hydrotherapy, group physiotherapy exercise classes and group Pilates classes, but a different code is used in billing. Your health fund information booklet or client services staff will be able to tell you if your particular fund covers these treatments.
Q. Can I claim for physiotherapy treatment on Medicare?
A. Under the EPC (Enhanced Primary Care) system (see below for more information) some clients with a Care Plan made in consultation with their GP are entitled to a maximum of 5 physiotherapy treatments in a calendar year. The clients pay for their treatment up front and then claim a rebate from Medicare.
The EPC system applies to clients with multiple chronic conditions who are having at least 3 medical problems dealt with at the same time. Please check your eligibility with your General Practitioner (Doctor).
Q. Can I claim for hydrotherapy treatment from a private health insurance fund?
A. Most funds also cover hydrotherapy. HBA, Medibank Private and MBF do cover hydrotherapy.
Your health fund information booklet or client services staff will be able to tell you if your particular fund covers hydrotherapy treatment. Some funds, such as MBF, cover group therapy so group hydrotherapy is billed under this item number.
Q. Can I claim for hydrotherapy treatment on Medicare?
A. Yes but only under the EPC system (see below)
Q. Can I claim for Pilates treatment from a private health insurance fund?
A. Most funds also cover group Pilates classes but a different code is used in billing. HBA, Medibank Private and MBF do cover Pilates or group exercise lead by a physiotherapist. Your health fund information booklet or client services staff will be able to tell you if your particular fund covers Pilates or group exercise.
Q. Can I claim for Pilates treatment from Medicare?
A. Yes, as part of an individual treatment session attended in the clinic.
Q. Do I need a referral?
A. Private patients do not need a referral. Our training allows us to be Primary Contact Practitioners and we take a detailed medical and physical history at your initial assessment.
Clients covered under TAC and Workcover who have a current and valid claim do not need a referral but do need to provide their claim number, employer contact details and Insurance Company contact details.
Veterans' Affairs patients DO need a referral from a GP or Specialist written on a DVA D904 form or on the doctor's letterhead. Veterans' Affairs clients must come for their first appointment within 2 weeks of the date of the referral.
EPC patients do need a referral and a Care Plan from their General Practitioner.
Q. Can a physiotherapist refer me for Xrays or scans?
A. Yes, a physiotherapist can refer for Xrays of the whole body. The Medicare rebate, and hence the clients out of pocket expense, is the same if a physiotherapist or a doctor refers you for spinal (neck, thoracic or lumbar) Xrays. However, the Medicare rebate is smaller if a physiotherapist refers you for Xrays of a peripheral joint such as shoulder, elbow, wrist, ankle, hip, knee compared to a doctor's referral for the same body part. At this clinic you would be given the option to get the referral from your doctor or the physiotherapist, especially for peripheral joints.
Physiotherapist can refer for diagnostic ultrasound scans and MRI but as there is no Medicare rebate for these scans the fee will be higher than if a Specialist Doctor referred you for the tests.
Q. Can I claim directly from my health insurance fund at your clinic?
A. Yes. We swipe your private health insurance fund extras cover card though our IBA Health unit at the time of payment. Payment is expected on the day of consultation. You will need to pay any gap either by credit card, debit card, cash or cheque.
Q. How does the EPC (Enhance Primary Care) system work?
A. EPC (Enhanced Primary Care) patients. Your GP can refer you here for a maximum of 5 treatments in a calendar year if you already have a Community Care Plan made by your GP. The GP can also choose to refer you for less than 5 treatments. The number of treatments requested is written on the referral form.
EPC patients must pay for your treatment here at the clinic at the time of the appointment. (updated 1/04/2011) We will give you a receipt with the item number and referral details on it to take to Medicare to claim a rebate on the treatment fee.
The Initial Treatment fee = $71, the Medicare Rebates = $50.05 so your out of pocket expense = $20.95
The Subsequent Treatment fees are =$59.90 , the Medicare Rebate = $50.05, so your out of pocket expense is = $9.85
You cannot claim any of this out of pocket expenses from your Private Health Insurance.
Once you have had the 5 treatments using the EPC system any further treatment will be billed privately should you wish to have further treatment.
Q. How do I enrol for the Pilates Group Classes?
A. Please telephone the clinic to book a physiotherapy assessment first. Everyone who attends our Pilates classes must be assessed prior to commencing group classes to establish their physical ability to perform a transversus abdominus muscle contraction (your lower abdominal muscles), and to screen them medically and physically to see that they are likely to benefit from it, and that they can perform at a level where they are suitable to join in with the exercise level of the group.
We run beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups. Everyone starts in the beginners classes for at least one term and can then progress to an advanced class.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TREATMENT.
Q. How long is each appointment?
A. 30 minutes is allocated for each appointment. The initial appointment may take a little longer than this and subsequent appointments may be a little shorter.
One part of the body is treated at each appointment time, such as a neck and headache problem, a lower back condition or a hip problem. The physiotherapist cannot treat 2 areas of your body effectively in a single appointment time, if you require treatment for 2 problems then a double appointment needs to be booked.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT PRIVACY
Q. Does your clinic have a privacy policy?
A. Yes. You can find it on this website. Just click on Privacy Policy in the About Us section.