We understand that navigating your way through the health system in terms of out-of-pocket costs can be a challenge, even when you have private health insurance.

Our highly experienced administration team are able to assist you and answer any questions you may have. Please contact us on 07 3830 3300 or discuss it with us at the time of your appointment.

Dr Malone is committed to the provision of the highest standard of care and support to our patients. We are committed to charging a fair and reasonable fee, having regard to our practice costs and services to patients, whilst also considering the individual circumstances of our patients.

The costs of running a specialist medical practice include practice staff wages, a 24-hour on call service, practice nurses who provide education and support throughout treatment, rent, medical supplies and equipment, IT services and infrastructure, continuing professional development, and insurance.

We support the USANZ position statement on fees. For more information, see the Australian Medical Association’s (AMA) guide for patients on how the health care system funds medical care.

You will be able to claim a Medicare rebate for some of the cost of your appointment. Please note that Medicare will not fully cover the cost of your appointment.

Private health insurance will not provide a rebate for the cost of your appointment.

At our Brisbane city office, we can perform minor procedures such as cystoscopy and vasectomy, without requiring an admission to hospital. There is a separate fee for a minor procedure, in addition to your consultation fee.

For some procedures, you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate for some of the cost of the procedure.

Private health insurance won’t provide a rebate for the cost of procedures performed in our procedure rooms.

The total cost of having surgery in a private hospital is a combination of fees from multiple providers.

Our fee is known as the surgeon’s fee. This is the only fee which we set. There will also be fees for your anaesthetist, the surgical assistant, the hospital, any specific equipment required during surgery, tests and X-rays, and some medications.

Often there will be a portion of your fees for surgery which will not be covered by Medicare and your private health insurance. This difference is known as the ‘gap’ or ‘out of pocket cost’.

Your doctor’s personal secretary will compile a quote for the anticipated fees for your surgeon, surgical assistant, and any specific equipment required. The quote will include the estimated gap. Please note that this quote is an estimate only. On occasion the final fee may differ from the estimate if unforeseen complexities arise during your surgery.

Once you have reviewed this quote, you will be asked to sign an informed financial consent form confirming that you understand the anticipated costs for your surgery. If you have any concerns about your quote, it is important that you discuss this with us prior to your procedure.

Please note that this quote does not include the fees which will be charged by your anaesthetist or the hospital. You will be given their contact details to discuss their fees with them directly.

Please see the below information about some of the other costs your may incur.

Tests and X-rays

If your doctor refers you for tests or X-rays, there may be an out of pocket cost associated with these services. Please discuss the fee with the company providing the service before having the test done.

For most tests, you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate for some or all of the cost of the test. Private health insurance will not provide a rebate for the cost of tests performed as an outpatient. Depending on your level of cover, Medicare and private health insurance will usually cover the cost of most tests performed while you are an inpatient in a hospital.

Medications

If your doctor prescribes you a medication, there will be an out of pocket cost for filling the prescription. This includes medications prescribed on discharge from hospital. Please discuss the cost with your pharmacist before filling the prescription. If you decide not to take a medication or to stop taking a medication, please inform your doctor.

For medications listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) schedule, you will receive a subsidy for some of the cost of the medication. Depending on your private health insurance policy, you may be able to claim a rebate on the out of pocket costs for some outpatient medications.

Depending on your level of cover, the PBS and private health insurance will usually cover the cost of most medications while you are an inpatient in a hospital.

Your medical costs are often partially covered through Medicare. Medicare will only pay a rebate for inpatient and outpatient services listed on the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

If you have had multiple medical bills in the calendar year, you may be eligible for a higher Government subsidy of your medical costs via the Medicare Safety Net.

Private health insurance will only pay a rebate for medical costs incurred while you are an inpatient in a hospital (including as a day surgery patient).

The amount which your private health insurer will pay towards the cost of your medical care will depend on which private health insurance company you are with, your level of cover, exclusions and waiting periods.

We recommend you contact your private health insurer before your treatment to discuss what costs they will cover.

If you do not have private health insurance, you can still choose to be treated in a private hospital, by self-funding your medical care.

If you choose to self-fund your care, you will not be eligible for any rebate of your hospital fees. You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate for some your surgeon’s fees, surgical assistant fees and anaesthetist’s fees. Your doctor’s personal secretary will compile a quote for the anticipated fees for your surgeon, surgical assistant, hospital, and any specific equipment required. It will take several days to arrange a quote when you are self-funding your care, as we need to liaise with the hospital administration.

Please see below the information about various payment options.

Payment options for consultations and minor procedures

We ask you to settle your account in full on the day of the consultation or procedure. We accept cash, personal and bank cheques, and EFTPOS (Debit cards, Mastercard, VISA). We do not accept American Express cards.

For consultations and minor procedures in our offices, we can lodge a Medicare claim for you online, so that the Medicare rebate is automatically sent to your nominated bank account or mailed to you by cheque.

Payment options for surgery

To settle your surgical account we accept payment by BPAY, direct deposit, cheque, or credit card, or in person at our Wickham Terrace office with cash or EFTPOS. We do not accept American Express cards.

Fees for your anaesthetist and the hospital are payable directly to those providers.

Third party accounts

If your account is being paid by a third party, we will require a letter from the third party stating that they will cover a particular service prior to your appointment or procedure. Without this we are unable to send the account to a third party and we will require you to settle your account on the day of your appointment.