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Fees and informed financial consent
Informed financial consent means you understand the likely cost of your care, and the rebates that may apply, before you decide to proceed.
At Melbourne Hand Surgery we aim to give you clear, written information about our fees so you can make confident decisions about your treatment. Informed financial consent is encouraged by the Australian Government and the Australian Medical Association. You can read more using the resources at the bottom of this page.
Consultation fees
An initial consultation with Dr Tomlinson is currently $335 (billed under Medicare item 104 for face to face appointments).
A Medicare rebate applies to eligible patients, so your out-of-pocket cost is the difference between our fee and the rebate. We do not offer bulk billing. WorkCover claims are accepted on a case-by-case basis, depending on capacity. Rebate arrangements can differ for WorkCover and TAC claims, so please discuss your specific circumstances with our team. WorkCover patients are required to acknowledge the information at this page prior to proceeding with an appointment.
Your surgical quotation: what it includes and when you receive it
If Dr Tomlinson recommends surgery, you will receive a written fee estimate. This is prepared after your consultation, once the following are confirmed:
- the planned operation and the relevant Medicare (MBS) item number or numbers
- any implant or device required
- any third-party services needed, such as hand therapy, anaesthetic, radiology or pathology
Your fee estimate will set out our fee and estimated rebate amounts. Rebate figures are estimates. Your final Medicare rebate, and any private health insurer rebate, are confirmed by Medicare and your insurer based on your level of cover.
Our fees and your insurer
Private health insurers pay different amounts for the same procedure. Our fees do not change based on which insurer you are with.
We charge the same fee regardless of your health fund. Any difference in your out-of-pocket cost reflects your insurer’s rebate, not our fee. Procedures performed in our consulting rooms are not covered by private health insurance as they are outpatient procedures.
Other costs in your care
Depending on your treatment, you may receive separate accounts from other providers involved in your care. These are billed independently of Melbourne Hand Surgery.
- Anaesthetist: if your procedure needs an anaesthetist, their fees are set by them and vary between anaesthetists.
- Hand therapy: some conditions and procedures need hand therapy before or after surgery.
- Radiology: you may choose your own radiology provider and can discuss their billing with them directly.
- Pathology: histopathology for our patients is handled by Histolab. Information for patients is available on the Histolab patient information page.
Telehealth consultations
Telehealth consultations are charged at the same fee as an in-person consultation.
Payment for surgery
Payment for surgery is required up front, before your procedure date.
Why we don't provide surgical fee estimates without a prior consultation
We are not able to provide surgical fee estimates to people who email or phone requesting a figure. This is not a barrier we put in your way.
An accurate estimate depends on the specific Medicare item number or numbers for your planned operation, and on your individual circumstances. These are only known after Dr Tomlinson has assessed you. A figure given without them could be wrong, which would defeat the purpose of informed financial consent.
The way to receive an accurate written quotation is to book a consultation. Our consultation fees are set out above.
Helpful resources
Two independent resources can help you understand medical costs:
- Medical Costs Finder (Australian Government Department of Health): typical costs for common private specialist services. It is a guide only and is not a quotation for your care.
- AMA Guide to Informed Financial Consent (Australian Medical Association): a plain-English guide, developed with medical colleges, explaining costs and the questions worth asking.