Billing guide

Most Telecare specialist consultations are Medicare rebate-able and so you may only have to pay the gap fee.

Out-of-pocket costs vary from specialty to specialty and will be discussed prior to booking.

For psychiatry appointments

• Patients may be eligible for bulk-billed telehealth psychiatry appointments if they live in regional and rural areas at least 15 km by road from a psychiatrist, or are from Indigenous healthcare centres/community-controlled health services.
• Specialties in high demand such as behavioural and developmental psychiatry, ADHD/ASD assessments may incur higher out-of-pocket fees.

For all other specialist allied health appointments

• For most consultations, out-of-pocket fees are quite nominal and typically range from $50 to $100.
• In limited circumstances, or at the request of the referring GP, the out-of-pocket charges may be reduced further, or even waived (completely bulk-billed appointments) especially for residents of aged care facilities and indigenous communities.
• For psychology, chronic disease management, dietetics or diabetes education, please also send a copy of the patient's Health Care Plan.

Yes. After we receive your referral, we communicate with you our estimated total fee, an estimated refund from Medicare (provided you are Medicare eligible) and your maximum ‘out-of-pocket’ cost.

There are a few factors that can contribute to the inability to provide an exact fee for our services. One possibility is that this may be your first consultation with us. In such cases, the fee is usually higher as it includes a comprehensive evaluation and any necessary tests. Another factor that may affect the fee is whether you fall into the category of safety net. If you have reached the safety net, you will be exempt from paying the medicare rebate with the fee. Additionally, an initial consult is typically more expensive than a review consult. To ensure that you are prepared for any potential costs, we quote you with the highest possible cost, so you can budget accordingly.

Once you have agreed to a suitable date for the appointment, we will charge you upfront: Medicare rebatable plus the gap fee. After the appointment, we will bill Medicare directly, and upon a successful refund from Medicare, Medicare will return the rebate amount to your account.

Telecare does not provide quotes for additional tests such as imaging and pathology.

Please feel free to ask us questions about fees over the phone before making a specialist appointment and get more details during your consultation. If you would like to find out more, call our support help desk on (03) 9052 4872 or email us at admin@telecare.com.au.