Practice Policy

Billing information (Updated & effective from 1st August 2023 )

Underwood Family Doctors is a mixed billing practice.

Please review our practice fee policy or call us on 07 3219 9996 and speak to one of our friendly receptionists if you require further clarification.

Our Practice Fees

There is a reasonable fee for Services, Procedures, Emergency appointments, Driving medical assessments, Skin check, Musculoskeletal consultations and management.

*Emergency appointments: If you do not have an appointment and MUST see a GP then there will be an out-of-pocket fee. Please appreciate that Medicare has a limit on the number of patients that a GP can visit each day. Hence if you do not have an appointment and cannot wait for next day, you may be charged a Private Fee.

General Consultation:

Bulk Billing available ( on weekdays for Existing children Patients ) *
Consult Type	Item Number **	Fee	Medicare Rebate	Out of Pocket
Children under 16years	Level A & B	Bulk Bill	N/A	–

* Weekend services are NOT Bulk billed.

** There are fees for existing patients required complex level of care and upon doctors’ discretion.

** Procedures may incur additional fees regardless of bulk-billing eligibility.


PRACTICE PRIVATE FEES
Consult Type	Item Number	Fee	Medicare Rebate	Out of Pocket
New Patients ( ALL )		$67 *	$41.20 *	$25.80*
Standard Consult (Level B) < 20mins	23	$67	$41.20	$25.80
Long Consults (Level C) 20-39 mins	36	$115	$79.70	$35.30
Extended Consults (Level D) >=40mins	44	$158	$117.40	$40.60
Telehealth – Telephone – Level B – for existing patients	91891	$67	$41.20	25.80
Telehealth – Telephone – For new patients		$67	–	$67

* An indicative/starting figure for standard consult which could be increased depending on consultation type.

AFTER HOURS RATES (Sundays)
Consult Type	Item Number	Fee	Medicare Rebate	Out of Pocket
Standard Consult (Level B) < 20mins	5020	$87	$53.65	$33.35
Long Consults (Level C) 20-39 mins	5040	$130	$92	$38
Telehealth – Telephone – Level B – for existing patients	91891	$87	$41.20	$45.80
Telehealth – Telephone – For new patients		$87	–	$87

Driving Medical / Other Assessments *

	Fee	Medicare Rebate
Uber	$110	–
Taxi	$150	–
Truck / Bus – Heavy vehicles	$150**	–
Employment/Insurance Medical	$250+	–
Other Insurances paperwork	$100+	–

* The medical certificate expiry date will be issued under doctor’s discretion.

** Currently holding any classes of licence except for C.

Musculoskeletal Initial and follow up consultation

Consultation

Item number

Fee

Medicare rebate

Out of Pocket

Prolonged

(Initial)

$270

$117.40

$152.60

Long

(Follow up)

$180

$79.70

$100.30

Patients without Medicare Cards will be charged in full amount and be given a receipt to claim back from their Medicare or private health insurance.

There is a sign in reception and at waiting room advising patients of the practice policy.

Payment methods

At Underwood Family Doctors, we accept payment by cash, credit card or EFTPOS

(See below). When a payment is made, a receipt should be issued from the computer and given to

the customer.

Payment by Credit Card/EFTPOS

In the case of payment by credit card, the credit card payment will be processed first using the

credit card machine.

Appointments:

We run by an appointment system to minimise your waiting time.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, such as an emergency, delays can sometimes occur and your patience would be appreciated if this should happen before your appointment.

A routine appointment is 10 minutes.

Appointments can be made online via our website www.underwoodfamilydoctors.com.au

If you require a longer appointment please discuss this with the receptionist when booking your appointment.

We ask patients to arrive on time for their appointment so other patients are not inconvenienced.

Home visits:

In very special circumstances, one of our doctors may make home visits for his regular patients if they live within the local area and are too sick to come to the practice if their issues are not able to be addressed through a Telehealth consultation.

A home visit can be arranged at a convenient time, usually during the doctor’s lunch break or at the end of their session.

It is best to phone early in the day if a home/nursing home visit is required. You will be informed if fees apply.

After Hour Services:

For after hour assistance please phone:

The National Home Doctor Service – 137425

You will be informed if fees will be incurred.

For urgent medical attention please call 000

Practice communication policy

Your doctor is available by telephone; however calls to the doctor can sometimes inconvenience patients while having their consultation.

In some cases, the nurse or receptionist may be able to assist you.

If your call is urgent you will be put through to the nurse.

Messages may be left for the attention of the doctor and will be returned after finishing existing appointment.

This practice does not monitor e-mails. Please do not communicate through the e-mail.

Management of patient health information:

Your health record is a confidential document. Our practice policy is to maintain protection of your personal health information at all times and to ensure that this information is only available to authorised members of staff. Please refer to the Patient Privacy Brochure in our reception area for further information on your privacy.

Feedback and complaints:

We invite our patients to complete a patient survey on their experience at our practice. These surveys are completely confidential and will help us to improve our services to you.

We take your concerns seriously so please feel free to talk to your doctor, practice manager or one of the staff members about any problems you may have had with our service.

We believe that problems are best dealt with within the practice. However if you feel there is a matter you wish to take up outside the practice, you may contact:

Office of the Health Ombudsman

PO Box 13281, George Street, Brisbane Qld 4003

P: 133 646 | E: info@oho.qld.gov.au