No, we do not. We operate a full-service private practice clinic with leading local clinical and administrative staff, along with the latest state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic clinical technology, which enables us to offer patients a truly world-class clinical experience. This service is not possible to run on a Bulk-Billing model. Therefore, there are reasonable out-of-pocket expense associated with most consultations and procedures.
No, you do not need a GP referral to see a specialist in Australia however, having a GP referral allows you to receive the Medicare rebate (ie: recoup a substantial amount of your consultation fees) and allows your GP to send a referral letter with your full medical history detailed, which is essential for A/Prof Polyakov to review. We strongly recommend speaking to your GP prior to considering seeing A/Prof Polyakov, simply to ensure that your issue cannot be managed by your primary care provider.
If you are a Medicare card holder and want to claim the Medicare rebate, you will require a valid referral from either a GP or another Specialist to entitle you to claim your Medicare rebate.
GP referrals are valid for 12-months and referrals from other Specialist are valid for 3-months.
The referral starts from the date the specialist first meets the patient, not the date issued.
In clinic
Private health insurance does not cover what is done in the rooms (unless you are an in-patient or overseas visitor with international travel insurance). If you are an international visitor with the necessary insurance, full payment is required at the time of the consultation, you will then be provided with a receipt to claim directly from your provider.
Surgery
No, you are not necessarily required to have private health insurance to be a patient in a private hospital. A ‘self-funded’ patient is someone who doesn’t have Private Health Insurance, but pays cash for their medical treatment upfront. This consists of the specialist’s fee, the anaesthetist’s fee, the surgical assistant’s fee and the hospital’s fee. It’s the hospital fee which makes up the vast majority of the cost.
Public Hospitals
If you are a Medicare card holder and your treatment is performed in a public hospital, there will be no fees associated with your care.
