Practice Information

Billing Policy

 

To continue our provision of quality medical services we are amending our fee structure from 1st July 2022.

The operational costs of running and maintaining a medical practice continue to increase annually and particularly in the current COVID environment.  The funded Medicare rebates are not adequate to cover the true costs of providing quality healthcare to our patients.  As a consequence, we have no option but to decrease the amount of bulk billing we have previously provided to our patients.

 We will continue to bulk bill some appointments, namely:

  • Health assessments for eligible patients
  • Childhood vaccinations and catch up vaccinations
  • Flu vaccinations
  • Children under 5 years (standard appointment) whose parents are regular patients
  • GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement
  • Healthy Heart Checks.

 All GP Mental Health Treatment Plans will attract an out of pocket gap of $50.00 minimum.

 Procedures

All procedures will incur either a Tier 1 or 2 out of pocket expense as shown below:

Facility Fee – Tier 1   ($10.00 – $45)

Examples:

  • ECG
  • Spirometry and/or nebuliser use
  • Cryotherapy/warts
  • Ear syringing
  • Eye consumables
  • Biopsy
  • Dressings

 Facility Fee – Tier 2 ($75.00)

Examples:

  • Minor skin procedures
  • Plastering
  • Cannulation and intravenous fluids
  • Suturing
  • Implanon

 Fees

Consultation Type

Fee

Time

Out of Pocket

Short

$60.00

5 minutes

$41.80

Standard

$85.00

10 minutes

$45.25

Long

$135.00

20 – 30 minutes

$58.05

Extra Long

$170.00

30 – 40 minutes

$64.95

 Cancellation Fee

If you are unable to keep an appointment please advise our receptionists as early as possible so we may offer the appointment to another patient. 

Failure to cancel an appointment within a reasonable timeframe of 2 hours prior to the appointment will attract a fee equivalent to the cost incurred had the appointment been attended. This fee will not be eligible for a medicare rebate and will range from $50-$130.

Note

Please ensure separate appointments are made for each family member; If you have more than one concern to discuss with the GP please book a longer appointment as will assist our GPs to run on time and Insurance medicals, pre-employment medicals, commercial licences, are not Medicare rebateable.

 

Privacy Policy

 

This practice is bound by the Federal Privacy Act (1988) and the Australian Privacy Principles (APPs). Middle Ridge Family Practice recognises the importance of protecting the privacy and the rights of individuals in relation to their personal information. This document outlines how we collect and manage your health information.

What is your personal information?
Personal information is information that identifies you or could reasonably identify you. Personal health information a particular subset of personal information can include any information collected and held to provide a health service. Our privacy policy covers all people who use our services or otherwise provide their personal information to us.

What personal information do we collect and hold?
The information Middle Ridge Family Practice collects includes medical details, family information, name, address, employment or other demographic data, past medical and social history, current health issues and future medical care, Medicare number, Concession card number, account details and any health information such as medical or personal opinions about a person’s, disability or health status.

We may also collect some information that is not considered personal information as it does not identify you or anyone else. For example, we may collect de-identified responses to patient feedback surveys.

How do we collect your personal information?
* Directly from you when you attend the practice
* As disclosed by you during your consultation at the practice
* From third parties such as a referring health professional, employers, law enforcement agencies and other
government entities.

What happens if we can’t collect your personal information?
If you do not provide us with the personal information described above, the following may happen:
* The practice may not be able to provide the requested service to you
* Your diagnosis or treatment may be inaccurate or incomplete

For what purpose do we collect, hold, use and disclose your personal information?
* To provide medical services and treatment to you
* For administrative and billing purposes
* Update our records and keep your details up to date
* To process and respond to any complaints made
* To comply with any law, rule and regulations
* For the purpose of data research and analysis
* For inclusion in a recall register for prevention of chronic disease
* For the purpose of reporting back to your employer
* To answer any queries about the services we provide to you
* To provide information to third parties with your consent
* To meet the obligations of notification to our medical defence organisations or insurers

Who do we disclose your information to?
* Personal information will only be used for the purpose of providing medical services and for claims and
payments, unless consented otherwise
* Disclosure may occur to third parties engaged by the practice or for business purposes e.g. accreditation
* Middle Ridge Family Practice will inform the patient where there is a statutory requirement to disclose
* personal information (e.g. mandatory reporting of certain diseases)
* The practice will not disclose personal information to any third party other than those related to providing
our medical services unless consent is obtained
* Middle Ridge Family Practice will not disclose personal information to anyone outside Australia without need
and without patient consent.

Exceptions to disclose without patient consent are where the information is:
* Required by law
* Necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety,
or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
* To assist in locating a missing person
* To establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
* For the purpose of a confidential dispute resolution process.

Who do we disclose your information to?
* Personal information will only be used for the purpose of providing medical services and for claims and
payments, unless consented otherwise
* Disclosure may occur to third parties engaged by the practice or for business purposes e.g. accreditation
* Middle Ridge Family Practice will inform the patient where there is a statutory requirement to disclose
* personal information (e.g. mandatory reporting of certain diseases)
* The practice will not disclose personal information to any third party other than those related to providing
our medical services unless consent is obtained
* Middle Ridge Family Practice will not disclose personal information to anyone outside Australia without need
and without patient consent.

Exceptions to disclose without patient consent are where the information is:
* Required by law
* Necessary to lessen or prevent a serious threat to a patient’s life, health or safety or public health or safety,
or it is impractical to obtain the patient’s consent
* To assist in locating a missing person
* To establish, exercise or defend an equitable claim
* For the purpose of a confidential dispute resolution process.

Direct Marketing
Middle Ridge Family Practice does not use or disclose the information we collect about you for direct marketing unless an exception applies, including where the individual either consents to the disclosure or has a reasonable expectation that their personal information will be used for direct marketing and the organisation notifies the individual on how to ‘opt out’ of direct marketing communications.

How can you access and correct your personal information?
Middle Ridge Family Practice acknowledges patients may request access to their medical records. Patients are encouraged to make this request in writing and the Middle Ridge Family Practice will respond within a reasonable time. Middle Ridge Family Practice will take reasonable steps to correct personal information where it is satisfied they are not accurate or up to date. From time to time, Middle Ridge Family Practice will ask patients to verify their personal information to ensure it is accurate and up to date. Patients may also request for this information to be corrected / updated in writing.

Security
Middle Ridge Family Practice takes all reasonable steps to ensure that your personal information is protected from loss and misuse. The practice holds your information in an electronic format. When your medical record is no longer required, the record is made inactive two years after your last consultation. Your record may be activated should you return to Middle Ridge Family Practice.

Contacting us
If you have any questions about this privacy policy, any concerns or a complaint regarding the treatment of your privacy or a possible breach of your privacy please contact the Practice Manager on 07 4635 1688. Your requests and complaints will be treated confidentially. Our practice representative will contact you within a reasonable time after receipt of your complaint to discuss your concerns and your options. If you feel the clinic cannot resolve your complaint/concern please contact the Office of the Health Ombudsman on 133646 or email complaints@oho.qld.gov.au.

Please Note: We may change our privacy policy from time to time. Any updated versions of this privacy policy will be displayed in the practice.

*Based on RACGP APP Privacy Policy – Management of Patient Health Information

 

Home Visits

Home visits may be arranged for our regular patients in emergencies.  A fee is charged for visits rendered.

 

After Hours National Home Doctor Service

Call 13 SICK on 13 7425 or if an emergency 000

You may also present to St Vincent’s Private Emergency Group or Toowoomba Hospital Emergency Department

 

Parking

There is ample parking at the front of the surgery for your convenience.