Informed financial consent

Patients are entitled to understand the likely fees associated with their care before proceeding with a consultation, procedure or treatment.

Green Square Dermatology provides information about commonly charged fees, available Medicare benefits and other potential costs to support informed financial consent.

Fees for consultations, surgical procedures and treatments are determined by the dermatologist a patient chooses to see and may vary according to the scope, complexity and duration of the service provided.

The usual standard consultation fees are:

• $320.00 – Initial consultation (MBS item 104)

• $215.00 – Subsequent consultation (MBS item 105)

These fees apply to a standard consultation within a single course of treatment.

A dermatologist may adjust their consultation fee according to the scope, complexity or duration of the consultation.

Where a subsequent consultation involves assessment of a new or unrelated concern, multiple conditions, a broader clinical assessment or care outside the usual scope of the existing consultation, 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.

Further information is available in:

• How much does it cost to see a dermatologist?

• Why am I charged a consultation fee?

• Why is my consultation fee higher for a new or additional concern?

Additional fees may apply where a medical service or procedure is performed during a consultation.

Common standard fees include:

• $175.00 – MBS item 30071/30072
  Biopsy of skin or mucous membrane for pathological examination.

• $165.00 – MBS item 30192
  Treatment of premalignant skin lesions by cryotherapy or similar treatment.

• $155.00 – MBS item 30207
  Injection of skin lesions with hydrocortisone or similar preparations.

Additional fees may apply to surgical procedures, laser treatments and other medical or cosmetic services.

Patients may request a financial estimate for a proposed surgical, medical or cosmetic service before proceeding with treatment.

For proposed services with a fee exceeding $750 per session, a written or verbal estimate will ordinarily be provided before treatment.

Financial estimates are generally valid for 6 weeks from the date of issue and are subject to the conditions contained in Green Square Dermatology's financial estimate policy.

• Financial estimates

Fees are payable at the completion of the consultation, treatment or procedure unless another arrangement has been approved in advance.

Green Square Dermatology accepts cash and approved electronic payment methods.

Patients remain responsible for payment of their account regardless of the amount of any Medicare benefit, insurance payment or other reimbursement that may subsequently be available.

Where a medical service is eligible for a Medicare benefit and the applicable Medicare requirements are satisfied, Green Square Dermatology can usually submit the patient's Medicare claim electronically.

For specialist consultations, a valid referral for the relevant course of treatment is required for Medicare benefits to be claimed.

Medicare benefits are determined by the Australian Government and are separate from the professional fee charged by the dermatologist.

Current information about common dermatologist consultation rebates is available at:

• Can I claim a Medicare rebate on medical services?

Information about electronic claiming is available at:

• Can you electronically submit my Medicare claim?

A dermatologist may provide a reduced consultation fee to a patient who holds a current Pensioner Concession Card issued by Services Australia.

Concession fees are offered at the discretion of the dermatologist and may not apply to all consultations, procedures or treatments.

Patients should present their current concession card and enquire about their eligibility before payment.

• Do you have pensioner concession rates?

Any concessions or bulk-billed service is provided at the discretion of the treating dermatologist and is determined on an individual consultation or service basis.

A previous discount, concession or bulk-billed service does not create an entitlement to the same arrangement for future services unless this has been specifically confirmed.

Green Square Dermatology does not generally provide Medicare bulk-billed dermatology services.

• Do you provide Medicare bulk-billed services?

Patients are required to provide at least 24 hours' notice if they are unable to attend a scheduled appointment.

Where sufficient notice is not provided, or a patient does not attend, a $75 late cancellation or non-attendance fee may be charged.

A deposit or prepayment may also be required before a further appointment is confirmed.

• What is your appointment cancellation policy?

• Why is a deposit required after a missed appointment?

A 15% surcharge applies to consultations, surgical procedures and treatments performed on:

• Saturdays;

• Sundays; and

• New South Wales public holidays.

The surcharge applies to the final fee for the service unless expressly stated otherwise.

Fees charged by a dermatologist or Green Square Dermatology do not include fees charged independently by external service providers unless expressly stated.

Additional costs may arise from services including pathology, pharmacy, radiology, hospitals and other health service providers.

These providers determine and bill their own fees independently.

For pathology costs, please refer to:

• Pathology service costs

Patients should contact the relevant external provider directly if they require information about that provider's fees or billing arrangements.

Patients with an outstanding account may be required to settle the balance before another appointment is confirmed or further services are provided.

Where an outstanding account is referred for external debt recovery or legal action, the patient may also be responsible for reasonable additional costs associated with recovery of the debt where applicable.

Patients are encouraged to ask about the likely cost of a consultation, procedure or treatment before proceeding.

Where the scope of a service changes for clinical reasons, the final fee may differ from an estimate or standard fee. Where practicable, any material change in the proposed service or likely fee will be explained before additional treatment is undertaken.

Green Square Dermatology may review and amend its fees and financial policies from time to time.

The fees and policies applicable at the time a service is provided will apply unless another arrangement has been expressly agreed.