Medicare and Fees – Dr Michael Crawford Laparoscopic & Bariatric Surgeon

What about your fees?

There are small out of pocket fees associated with visiting Dr Crawford which will be explained at the time of making the booking. Patients having surgery will be advised if there is any Gap fee expected for the surgery ahead of the procedure. This is typically a modest co-payment with most of the cost of surgery being looked after by Medicare and Insurance if you have it. Patients receiving care as Public Patients in the public hospital generally have no out of pocket costs associated with the procedure itself.

What are your acceptable means of payment?

Fees will be reviewed with you at the consultation visit. Payment during the consultation is appreciated.

Bank checks, personal checks, cash or credit cards (MasterCard, VISA) are acceptable means of payment. We do not accept American Express cards.

Do I need to have private health insurance?

Private Health insurance allows you and your family to access the right health services at the right time. You have control of your health care and can choose the provider, facility and timing of your treatment. With the security and protection of private health insurance, you have access to an extensive range of private hospitals and can rest assured that your health is in good hands.

Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Most medical specialists will accept only referred patients. This is partly to try to ensure that the specialist you are seeing is appropriate for you and your condition, and also because Medicare pays higher rebates for specialist services if you have been referred.

How can my family doctor help me to obtain specialist medical care?

Before seeing any medical specialist, it is always preferable to talk to your own family doctor, who can discuss your condition with you and advise on whether any specialist care is appropriate. If it is, he or she can help you to choose the specialist best suited to your needs. Your family doctor can help the specialist to care for you better by providing relevant information about your health. Communicating with the specialist will also enable your family doctor to care for you better during and after your specialist treatment.

What are the Medicare rules about referrals to specialists?

If you want Medicare to help to pay for specialist medical services at the referred rate, it is essential to discuss your condition and possible referral with your family doctor before you see the specialist. Please note that the backdating of referrals is illegal and can result in heavy fines and prison sentences. If you have any questions about seeing medical specialists or about the Medicare benefits system, please ask your family doctor or contact Medicare on 13 2011.