Health & Fitness

New patient?

Health & Fitness

Posted by: peterv

10th Mar 2009 11:47pm

If I have one major gripe about the health system it's this.I've been seeing the same cardiologist for over fifteen years and until recently the visits were annual so no new referral needed and only charged the basic fee,about $70. My visits are now every two years so need a new referral and am charged $170 as a new patient! What a rip off.


Comments 14

Jill
  • 23rd Apr 2012 09:14pm

once again the health system is not there for the patient, only them selves.

jacquiworm
  • 19th Apr 2011 06:59pm

ask to be seen anually its your health so totally up to you

jacquiworm
  • 19th Apr 2011 06:58pm

ask to be seen anually its your health so totally up to you

peterv
  • 16th Nov 2010 09:25pm

Thanks to everyone who replied.No longer have to see him so it's all good!

windofchange
  • 16th Nov 2010 08:01pm

Anyon e who needs to see a Specialist on a regular basis can get their GP to give them an ongoing referral, rather than the one off referral normally given. Then you do not need another referral to see yhe specialist

Anonymous
  • 12th May 2010 03:03pm

Tich says.This is unfair.You are being ripped off.

jem55
  • 23rd Mar 2010 05:14pm

can't you ask to be seen yearly instead of every two years? Tell them you don't agree with the new pricing and would like to keep it as it was. You never know,they might agree.

peterv
  • 24th Mar 2010 02:47pm
Glad to here it Peter. Good luck in the future.
Cheers Jem55

Thanks jem55,

Cheers,
Pete.

jem55
  • 23rd Mar 2010 06:53pm
thanks jem55,
I don't think we'll ever win the battle over these people.After all,who's going to fund the new Merc or BMW? LOL.
Fortunately I no longer need to see...

Glad to here it Peter. Good luck in the future.
Cheers Jem55

peterv
  • 23rd Mar 2010 05:39pm
can't you ask to be seen yearly instead of every two years? Tell them you don't agree with the new pricing and would like to keep it as it was. You never know,they might agree.

thanks jem55,
I don't think we'll ever win the battle over these people.After all,who's going to fund the new Merc or BMW? LOL.
Fortunately I no longer need to see him.Hooray!

solstice
  • 15th Jun 2009 07:49am

If your records are on file at the Dr's then you are NOT a new patient, they are just ripping you off to buy a new car or pay for another overseas holiday.

Ingi
  • 13th Jan 2013 05:54pm
If your records are on file at the Dr's then you are NOT a new patient, they are just ripping you off to buy a new car or pay for another overseas holiday.

Solstice hi, I used to go to a surgeon for 25 years, he was marvellous, bulk billed, no problems, then he went into a different field and I could not see him anymore, since then have had numerous doctors for 2 or 3 years and then they disappeared to work in Melbourne, they got fed up with working in a rural small towns, no money to be made there, so new doctors had to be found every few years, lots of records somehow disappeared, amazing wasn't it? somehow they were not sent via computer because they somehow were lost along the way, lucky I kept all my records myself, my blood tests, 16 ops, etc. etc., Things are different nowadays, nobody seems to care, just give you pills, pills and more pills, I had to ask my last doctor for a blood pressure test again, he said it would be okay, it was last time? what kind of service is that? I am on high blood pressure tablets and have to watch it, 35 years ago I needed an op, went to the local Health Clinic, was not charged, not bulk billed in those days, worked as a typist with the SEC at Yallourn, had to have an op off to the hospital, had the op, doctor visited me every day to see how I was and when okay was sent home, even after having my children 10 days in hospital and then home, nowadays next day off home you go, we need the bed, yet half the hospital is closed...why? too many CEO's getting paid too much, high salaries for doing what? so don't say that the health system is the same or good it is not; and a lot of nurses and doctors whether in hospital or at surgeries cannot even speak good English or understand what we are saying, for heaven's sake how did they get into this country? We arrived in Australia in 1949 and had to be squeaky clean, have all our shots and SPEAK ENGLISH, which we did, we spoke 6 languages. Too much wankerism around and politcal correctness today which definitely does not work.

peterv
  • 23rd Mar 2009 06:16pm

Many thanks for that.I'll look into it.

frilly
  • 13th Mar 2009 11:02pm

I feel you are being ripped off you should make enquiries through Medicare. They are more helpful than people realise.

I see a great many Doctors, really you would be amazed how many and some I see on a very irregular basis but I am never treated or charged as a new patient.
I am very grateful for this as one charges $350.00 for New Patient.

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