GENERAL POLICY

PENSIONERS AND MOST HEALTH CARE CARD HOLDERS

If you have private health insurance
You will not pay any out of pocket expenses to Dr Howland
Extra payments may be required for operations such as to an anaesthetist.

If you do not have private health insurance
For consultations and most ultrasound scans, you will be bulk billed.
Out of pocket expenses will be incurred for hospital services such as operations or confinements for the doctors and for the hospital. Dr Howland is happy to give quotations of the total cost expected.

PATIENTS WITHOUT A PENSION OR HEALTH CARE CARD
Fees are charged above the schedule fee but below those recommended by the AMA.
Consultations and procedures performed in the consulting rooms receive a rebate of approximately 60% from Medicare.

Gynaecology procedures performed in hospital are billed using the "known gap" system. This will incur an out of pocket expense which is usually below $400. For patients with health insurance through MBF and some other funds, other arrangements are necessary. Please ask Dr Howland’s staff about these arrangements.

Quotations of costs are available by phone or E-mail. Quotations ensuring informed financial consent are given before all hospital procedures. Sometimes extra costs will be incurred due to unexpected problems which require more complicated or prolonged surgery. These costs may not be able to be predicted before the operation.  Other extra costs include Anaesthetist, Pathology, Pharmacy, Paediatrician and telephone use. 

For patients not covered by either Medicare or private health insurance, such as overseas visitors or those seeking operations not covered by Medicare an estimate of the total costs can be given including other doctors and the hospital.

OBSTETRIC FEES

 Upgraded 28/11/09

Item	Number	Sched Fee	AMA	Dr Howland	M/C Rebate	Pt Gap
Initial consult	104	80.85	144	134	68.75	65.25
Subsequent visit	105	40.60	77	68	34.55	33.45
Antenatal consult	16500	40.45	90	68	34.40	33.60
Scan < 17 non-referred	55708	35	88	74	29.75	44.25
Scan > 17 non-referred	55709	38	96	82	32.30	49.70
Scan < 17 referred	55707	70	225	150	59.50	90.50
Scan > 17 referred	55706	100	320	216	85	131
Delivery Uncomp NG	16519	504.50	2570	1445	378.40	nil
Delivery Uncomp Gap		504.50	2570	1445	378.40	940.50
Delivery Comp NG	16522	1184.55	3625	1677	888.45	nil
Delivery Comp Gap		1184.55	3625	1677	888.45	788.55
Antenatal Manage Fee		122.50		1900.15	104.15	1796
Operations example
Hysterectomy	35653	637.60	1525	1081	478.20	159

Fees are generally increased at the beginning of the year although this may vary. They will apply to all services from the date of increase.

OBSTETRICS

Pregnant patients will be billed a "Management Fee" at their first visit after 20 weeks  (Item 16590).

Your hospital insurance fund and Medicare will be billed directly for your delivery fee and should rebate that entire fee. 

When you have reached your safety net level, Medicare will rebate some of the fees for out of hospital care. Medicare can advise you about your safety net entitlement.

Extra costs may be incurred during your pregnancy. These could include  paying for blood tests, physiotherapy, medicines, consultations and treatment by other specialists for complications of the pregnancy and investigations such as  non-obstetric scans.

For your delivery, you may have charges for an anaesthetist, QML pathology, pharmacy and a physiotherapist. You will have a charge by a paediatrician. There may be out of pocket gaps to pay after Medicare and hospital fund rebates for these services. The out of pocket fees for an anaesthetist may exceed $1,000.

You should contact your health fund and Medicare to find out about how much they will pay for obstetric services. We are happy to discuss our charges with you.