Pathology service cost

Pathology services are provided and billed independently of Green Square Dermatology and the treating dermatologist.

A patient may incur an additional charge from a pathology service provider for the testing and analysis of tissue, blood, swab or other pathology samples collected as part of their care.

Any pathology fee is separate from the dermatologist’s professional fee for the consultation, biopsy, excision or other procedure.

Pathology service providers determine their own fees and billing arrangements. Depending on the test performed and the patient’s Medicare eligibility, a pathology service may be bulk billed, partly covered by Medicare, or subject to an out-of-pocket fee.

Green Square Dermatology does not determine or control fees charged by an independent pathology provider.

Many eligible out-of-hospital pathology services may be bulk billed by the pathology provider, in which case the Medicare benefit is accepted as full payment and the patient has no out-of-pocket cost for that service.

Not all pathology services are eligible for a Medicare benefit, and some services may be subject to specific Medicare requirements or restrictions.

Private health insurers cannot cover out-of-hospital medical services that are eligible for Medicare benefits. Different arrangements may apply to pathology services provided to a patient while admitted to hospital.

Patients should check directly with the pathology provider, Medicare or their private health insurer if they are unsure about their likely costs or eligibility.

Where a patient wishes to confirm the likely cost of a pathology service, they should contact the pathology provider directly.

The pathology provider may require information about the requested test, Medicare eligibility or other billing details before it can provide an estimate.

Green Square Dermatology commonly refers pathology samples to Douglass Hanly Moir Pathology.

Patients may request that another pathology provider be used, provided that provider is able to perform the required test and suitable arrangements can be made for the sample.

Any request to use an alternative pathology provider should be discussed with the treating dermatologist before the sample is collected.