Why am I charged a consultation fee?

A consultation fee covers the professional medical assessment and advice provided by your dermatologist during your appointment.

Depending on the reason for your consultation, this may include:

• reviewing your medical history, medications and relevant test results;

• assessing the condition or concern for which you are attending;

• examining affected areas of the skin;

• explaining the diagnosis or likely cause of your condition;

• discussing available treatment options, benefits and limitations;

• selecting an appropriate treatment or management plan;

• providing advice about ongoing care, monitoring or follow-up; and

• preparing prescriptions, referrals, pathology requests or other clinical documentation where required.

The fee reflects the dermatologist’s professional time, clinical judgement and responsibility for the medical care provided.

The usual consultation fees are:

• $320.00 – Initial consultation

• $215.00 – Subsequent consultation

An initial consultation generally applies to the first specialist attendance in a single course of treatment.

A subsequent consultation generally applies when your dermatologist is continuing the assessment, treatment or management of the same condition.

Yes.

Your dermatologist may adjust their consultation fee depending on the scope, complexity or duration of the consultation.

This may include consultations involving multiple conditions, a broader clinical assessment, or additional time required to explain treatment options and develop an appropriate management plan.

If you ask your dermatologist to assess a new or unrelated concern, or the consultation extends beyond the usual scope of your existing course of treatment, a fee of $320 may apply instead of the usual $215 subsequent consultation fee.

This may occur even where the attendance is billed as a subsequent consultation for Medicare purposes.