New Patients

• A valid referral needs to be sent to our clinic (see explanation below regarding valid referrals).
• Email, post or hand deliver referrals to us:
  • EMAIL: reception@illawarraent.com.au
  • ADDRESS: Suites 1&2/8-10 Victoria Street, Wollongong NSW 2500
• Appointments will not be made without a valid referral.
• Please ensure all your contact details are on the referral and that they are current.
• All referrals need to be addressed to one of our specialist doctors.
• All referrals are triaged by our specialist doctors.
• Patients are contacted via SMS to advise of receipt of referral (if patient does not have a mobile phone, please ensure a home phone or email are listed on referral).
• Patients will be contacted by our staff to book appointments with our specialists.
• Consultation Fee of $350.00 (valid Medicare card holders will receive a rebate for these fees), all procedures during the appointment will be bulk billed to Medicare.
• Pension/Concession/Healthcare card holders (Government issued) are entitled to a consultation fee of $250.00 (valid Medicare card holders will receive a rebate for these fees), all procedures during the appointment will be bulk billed to Medicare.
• Long consultations (as deemed necessary by our doctor’s) incur a consultation fee of $470.00 (valid Medicare card holders will receive a rebate for these fees), all procedures during the appointment will be bulk billed to Medicare.
• We are NOT a bulk billing clinic.
• Triage process may take several weeks for us to contact you to book an appointment, though as mentioned above you will be notified that your referral has been received.
• There is currently a 4-5 month wait for appointments with our specialist doctors for standard (non-urgent) appointments.

Existing/Current Patients

• Patients need a valid referral to be seen by one of our specialist doctors, (see explanation below regarding valid referrals)
• If you do not have a valid referral, you can’t get a Medicare rebate back from your consultation fee and you will be required to pay consultation fees in full on day of appointment (see explanation below regarding valid referrals).
• Referrals from a GP are valid for a period of 12 months, referrals from other specialist doctors are only valid for a period of 3 months.
• Review appointments (returning for another appointment within 12 months of previous appointment) have a consultation fee of $150.00 (valid Medicare card holders will receive a rebate for these fees), all procedures during the appointment will be bulk billed to Medicare.
• Review appointments (returning for another appointment within 12 months of previous appointment) for Pension/Concession/Healthcare card holders (Government issued) are entitled to a consultation fee of $125.00 (valid Medicare card holders will receive a rebate for these fees), all procedures during the appointment will be bulk billed to Medicare.
• Review appointments with over 12 months since previous appointment, may need a new referral in order to book another appointment and will be charged a new patient consultation fee.
• Without a valid referral you will be charged full consultation fee and be unable to get a Medicare rebate from the fee paid.

Referrals

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH PATIENT TO ENSURE THEY HAVE A CURRENT/VALID REFERRAL FOR EACH APPOINTMENT.

WE WILL ENDEAVOR TO CONTACT PATIENTS AS A COURTESY, BUT THIS IS NOT ALWAYS POSSIBLE.

REFERRALS ISSUED BY A GP

• Must be addressed to one of our specialist doctors.
• Valid for use for 12 months from date on referral.
• Once activated at first appointment, will be active (and entitled to a Medicare rebate) for a period of 12 months from date of first appointment. Any subsequent appointments after the 12 month period will need a new valid referral issued by either a GP or specialist.

REFERRALS ISSUED BY A SPECIALIST DOCTOR

• Must be addressed to one of our specialist doctors.
• Valid for use for 3 months from date on referral.
• Once activated at first appointment, will be active (and entitled to a Medicare rebate) for a period of 3 months from date of first appointment. Any subsequent appointments after the 3 month period will need a new valid referral issued by either a GP or specialist.