Fees & Payments

Learn about FCD Health’s fees and payments, including bulk billing eligibility and private fees. We are committed to transparent and accessible healthcare for all patients.

Welcome to FCD Health operating the Palmerston GP Super Clinic and the Palmerston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic. This information relates to the Palmerston GP Super Clinic only and the Palmerston Medicare Urgent Care Clinic is a fully bulk-billed service.

We’re here to provide you with quality healthcare while keeping things simple and transparent. Below, you will find everything you need to know about how we charge for our services.

General Practice Services
At our clinic, we use a mix of bulk billing (no out-of-pocket costs) and private fees. Here’s how it works.

For Existing Patients
We bulk bill (at no cost to you) if you are

• A child under 16 years old

• A pension or concession cardholder

• A Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA) cardholder (for approved conditions)

• Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander If you’re not in one of these groups, private fees apply.


For New Patients

New patients pay a private fee for their first visit unless you are a DVA Gold Card holder – in which case, you will be bulk billed.

Please take a look at the table below for a full breakdown of our fees and any rebates available. If you have questions, ask our friendly team – we are always happy to help.

Here’s a guide to our fees for general practice consultations (as of 1 September 2024):
Service
Fee
Medicare Rebate

Short Consultation

$80.00

$19.60

Standard Consultation

$110.00

$42.85

Long Consultation

$180.00

$82.90

Extended Consultation

$220.00

$122.15

New Patient Initial Consultation

$110.00

$42.85

Follow-Up  Consultation

$75.00

$19.60

Excisions

$80.00

N/A

Suturing

$50.00

N/A

Treatment Room Fee (Nurse Only)

$60.00

N/A

Women’s Health Check

$70.00

N/A

Vaccination Clinic (Treatment Room Fee)

$20.00

N/A

Boostrix DTPA  Vaccine

$60.00

N/A

Engerix B Vaccine

$112.50

N/A

Private Flu  Vaccine

$33.50

N/A

Twinrix Vaccine  (Hep A & B)

$300.00

N/A

Yellow Fever Vaccine

$175.00

N/A

Podiatry –  Initial Consultation

$85.00

N/A

Podiatry –  Follow-Up Consultation

$75.00

N/A

Physiotherapy –  Initial Consultation

$132.00

N/A

Dietician –  Initial Consultation

$130.00

N/A

Psychology  Session

$200 - $260

N/A

Transfer of  Medical Records

$30.00

N/A


Note: N/A indicates no Medicare rebate is available for the service. For further assistance, please speak to our friendly reception team.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONs?

Follow-Up Consultation Fees

At Palmerston GP Super Clinic, we want to ensure you know how much we charge for follow-up consultations. Follow-up consultations attract a reduced fee of $75, and a Medicare rebate of $19.60 applies. Here's when you might need to pay a follow-up fee.

More Than One Referral or Test Needed
If your follow-up appointment involves two or more things, like referrals or getting blood tests or x-rays, there may be a follow-up fee.

New Health Needs
A new health problem during your follow-up appointment may be treated as part of the consultation and may have an additional fee.

Longer Appointments
Follow-up consultations that last longer than 10 minutes may also have a follow-up fee.

However, we know everyone’s situation is different, and your doctor may choose to bulk bill (at no cost to you) for follow-up appointments, depending on your circumstances.

If you have any questions or need more details, please ask our friendly reception team for help.

Missed Appointment Policy

At Palmerston GP Super Clinic, we are committed to providing high-quality care to all our patients. We understand that unexpected things happen, but missed appointments can affect our ability to serve others. We have a policy regarding missed appointments to ensure fair and efficient care.

Why We Have This Policy
When an appointment is missed without notice, it prevents us from offering that time to another patient who may need medical attention.

Missed appointments also impact our scheduling and clinic operations, which affects our overall ability to care for our community.

Important Information
Please let us know if you need to cancel or reschedule at least 24 hours before your appointment. This allows us to offer the time to another patient in need.

If you miss your appointment or cancel with less than 24 hours notice, a missed appointment fee may be charged. This fee is not covered by Medicare and must be paid directly to the clinic.

We understand that emergencies happen. If you miss your appointment due to an emergency, please contact us as soon as possible. Under certain circumstances, we may be able to waive the fee.

How You Can Help
Set reminders for your appointments to ensure you don't forget.
Contact us immediately if you need to change your appointment.

We value your understanding and cooperation in helping us provide the best care to everyone. If you have any questions or need assistance, please call Palmerston GP Super Clinic. We are here to support you.

HotDoc – Payments, Holds and Check-In

Why do I need to provide a card for a booking hold?
We require a small deposit when booking appointments to improve appointment availability and reduce non-attendance. This ensures fairness for all patients and helps us provide timely care by minimising missed appointments.

For general appointments, a $50 hold is placed on your card and will go toward your consultation fee. If your appointment is bulk billed, your card will not be charged.

If you prefer not to provide card details online, you can book over the phone with our reception team at 08 8919 8919. The same $50 hold will apply.

Is my card charged immediately?
No, the hold is not an immediate charge. It secures the booking and will only be processed at the time of your appointment. If the appointment is bulk billed or cancelled within the required notice period, the hold will be released, and no funds will be deducted.

What if I can't place a hold on my card?
If you’re a regular patient and cannot provide a card for the hold, we encourage you to call us. For patients with a history of missed appointments, we may discuss alternative booking arrangements with your doctor.

What happens if I miss my appointment?
The deposit may be forfeited if you do not attend your appointment or cancel without sufficient notice. We encourage you to contact us as early as possible if you need to reschedule.

How do I check-in for my appointment?
1. On arrival please use the HotDoc Check-In Kiosk or visit our friendly reception desk.
2. Confirm your details to complete the check-in process.
3. Relax and take a seat in our waiting area, and the person you have booked to see will come and get you shortly.

Why use HotDoc?
HotDoc is a secure and trusted booking platform designed to simplify appointment management. Although there is a small processing fee for transactions, it ensures a smoother experience for patients and staff by reducing no-shows and keeping your care on track.

I’m concerned about providing my card details—how are they protected?
We understand your concerns and take security seriously. HotDoc does not store your payment details. Payments are processed securely through a trusted third-party provider, ensuring your information remains private and safe.

Outstanding Payments and Fees

At FCD Health, we are committed to providing quality healthcare and ensuring a seamless experience for all our patients. We understand that managing medical expenses can sometimes be challenging. To assist you, we have outlined our approach to handling outstanding accounts and the support options available to you.

What to Expect If You Have an Outstanding Balance:

Upcoming Appointments
If you have an outstanding balance, we will kindly request payment at your next scheduled appointment. Our reception team will inform you of any dues and assist you with the payment process.

Payment Plans
We understand that immediate payment may not always be feasible. If you cannot settle the balance in full, please discuss this with us. We offer flexible payment plans tailored to your circumstances, ensuring you can continue receiving the care you need without added financial stress.

No Upcoming Appointments
If you do not have an appointment scheduled, we will reach out to you via phone to inform you about the outstanding balance. Following this, an invoice will be sent to your registered address. We encourage you to contact us upon receiving the invoice to discuss payment options or to arrange a suitable payment plan.

Your Options
You can settle your account using various payment methods, including cash, Visa, MasterCard, and EFTPOS. We offer structured payment plans to accommodate your financial situation. Our team is here to work with you to find a solution that ensures your healthcare remains uninterrupted.

Contact Us
If you have concerns about your outstanding balance or need to discuss payment arrangements, please do not hesitate to contact our accounts department at accountspayable@fcdhealth.org.au. We are here to support you and ensure financial matters do not hinder your health and well-being.

Accounts not settled on the day may incur a $10 fee, with a strict seven-day payment policy. Accounts exceeding seven days are followed up via telephone or letter, and failure to pay within 30 days may result in the account being referred to a debt collector.

We aim to handle all financial matters with compassion and understanding. Our primary goal is to support your health journey, and we are dedicated to working with you to manage any outstanding accounts in a way that respects your circumstances.

Thank you for your attention to this matter. We value your trust in us as your healthcare provider and are here to assist you in any way we can.

Transfer of Medical Records

At Palmerston GP Super Clinic, we are committed to maintaining the confidentiality and security of your medical records. A $30 (inclusive of GST) fee applies to transfer medical records to cover administrative costs. Payment is required before the records are released. For more information or to request a transfer, don't hesitate to contact our reception team. Note: Fees are under the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and Australian Privacy Principles.

How to Request Access or Correction to your records
You can request access to your personal information or ask for corrections by contacting us at (08) 8919 8919. Requests can be made:
o In person at the clinic
o By phone calling (08) 8919 8919
o By email at contact@fcdhealth.org.au
o In writing via PO Box 1850, Palmerston, NT 0831

To protect your privacy and ensure the security of your personal information, we will ask you to verify your identity before granting access or making corrections.

We will work with you to provide access to your personal information in a way that meets your needs, such as:
• Providing a printed or electronic copy of your information.
• Allowing you to inspect the information in person at the clinic.

If access cannot be granted as you requested, we will discuss suitable alternatives with you.

If you believe the personal information, we hold about you is incorrect, incomplete, or out-of-date, you can request that it be updated. We will take reasonable steps to correct the information as requested or explain why we cannot do so.

Where possible, we aim to respond to access requests within 14 days of receiving the request. Access to your personal information is generally provided free of charge. However, we may charge a reasonable fee for administrative costs, such as copying or printing documents. Any fees will be communicated to you in advance.

In rare circumstances, we may refuse access or correction if permitted by law, such as where access would pose a serious threat to the health or safety of an individual or would unreasonably affect the privacy of others. If this occurs:
• You will be provided with a written explanation of the reasons for refusal.
• You will be informed of any available avenues to complain.

For general enquiries:
contact@fcdhealth.org.au
For feedback:
feedback@fcdhealth.org.au

We Value Your Feedback

Your feedback is vital to helping us improve our services and ensure we deliver the highest standard of care. Whether you have suggestions for improvement, compliments about your experience, or concerns that need addressing, we encourage you to share your thoughts with us.

Your voice matters, and by providing feedback, you’re helping us create a better healthcare experience for everyone in the community.