Consultations
All specialist consultations require a current referral from your General Practitioner (valid for 12 months) or another specialist (valid 3 months). A valid referral allows you to reclaim your rebate for the consultation from Medicare.
Initial consultations are allocated an extended period of time for a thorough assessment but are charged at a high rate than subsequent consultations. Payment is required at the time of your consultation. Department of Veteran’s Affairs card holders will have their account sent directly to DVA. Patients supported by worker’s compensation schemes will require written approval prior to the consultation.
Our specialists consult at major hospitals across Brisbane. Please see each specialist’s page for specific locations and contact details for further enquiries regarding costs or logistics.
For patients living far from Brisbane, Brisbane Pain Medicine specialists facilitate teleheath review consultations via Skype in cooperation with your local doctor. Initial consultations require examination and therefore are not suitable for teleheath.
Find out what conditions we treat
What to bring to your appointment?
- Referral from your GP or specialist
- Medication list
- Specialist letters
- X-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and blood results
Procedures
Interventional therapies may be helpful for some persistent pain conditions. If appropriate, details of the procedures will be provided AFTER consultation for assessment and diagnosis. These details include the benefits, risks and an itemised quote, including your health fund contribution.
Information about the hospital admission procedure and your anaesthetist for the procedure will also be provided.
Most procedures are performed as day cases and you will require an adult to drive you home and remain with you overnight.
Find out about what procedures we perform
Our Anaesthetic Partners:
Fees, Medicare and Health Funds
The Medicare Benefit Schedule (MBS) was established in 1985 to detail the medical and surgical services that the Federal Government would contribute funding towards. Every service is allocated an item number and a prescribed fee rebate. Health Funds base their rebates on the MBS fee rebates but only contribute towards services in hospital.
Unfortunately these rebates have not increased with inflation over the decades whilst the cost of providing these services has. The Federal Government now contributes a substantially smaller proportion of the costs of medical services. In circumstances where costs are not now adequately covered by the MBS and the Health Fund, there may be a “gap” to be covered by the patient.
Brisbane Pain Medicine specialists are acutely aware of the burden of health costs to patients and charge no gap whenever possible.
Quick Links
The following links may be helpful:
http://fpm.anzca.edu.au/patients
https://www.aci.health.nsw.gov.au/chronic-pain
http://www.painaustralia.org.au
http://chronicpainaustralia.org.au/index.php
https://www.painmanagement.org.au