What will it cost?

Before you go into hospital for any proposed treatment as a private patient, it's your right to ask your doctor about his or her fees.

If you have a Health Fund

Some anaesthetists at Burnie Anaesthesia take part in the "No Gap" scheme.

In 2001, the Federal Government introduced the No Gap scheme. Under this scheme the amount the health funds can contribute towards inpatient services was increased above the 25% allocated under the Schedule Fee, on the condition that the doctor accepts the resulting amount as full payment for their service. In this situation the doctor bills the patient's health fund directly, which means that the you will not receive a bill, and will incur no out-of-pocket expense.

For a patient to have access to this scheme their doctor has to be registered with the appropriate health fund, however doctors registered with the scheme have discretion as to which patients they bill under this arrangement.

As the No Gap rebates for anaesthesia remain significantly less than the ASA/AMA recommended level (and also proportionally poor compared to those offered to other specialists), this arrangement should not be taken for granted, especially as comparable services in metropolitan areas will often be charged at much higher rates with patients incurring out of pocket expenses.

If you do not have a Health fund

There will be a separate fee from your anaesthetist for the anaesthesia services provided to you. You should be aware that Medicare does not cover the entire cost of your anaesthesia. This difference between what is covered and the actual fee for the anaesthesia services is known as the ‘gap’ and will be your personal responsibility to pay. The fee charged by your anaesthetist is related to the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) number, and is time-based.

An approximate estimate of your bill can be provided to you on upon request. Please note that, as our fees are time-based, we cannot provide you with a definite quote, and the total amount on your bill may be different from the estimate provided to you.

Paying Your Account

Preferred Method:

Pay your account first. See the 'Payment Options" Section below. Then wait for our receipt so that you can claim from Medicare. If you have not received a receipt from us within a week of making any payment, please ring our office for a copy.

Alternative Method:

Lodge the account with Medicare first. Between 4 to 6 weeks after you lodge your account with them, they will mail you a cheque made out to your doctor. Once you have received the cheques, forward them, along with any additional payment required from you to cover the fee to our office.

Payment Options

1. Cheques/Money Orders:
Make out cheques and money orders to the doctor shown on your account

2. Eftpos

We have Eftpos facilities in our rooms

3. Credit Card

We have credit card facilities in our rooms. You can also pay by credit card over the phone.