INFORMATION ON FEES 2024

Welcome to WtMed The Doctors on Erin Street

WtMed is a private practice.

From 1 January 2023, discounted private fees will apply for concession-card holders under 67 and children over 5.

If you require a Long appointment please phone the surgery.

All consultations between the hours of 7.00am-9.00am will be privately billed.

Pensioner Card Holders, Concession Card Holders & Children under 16 years of age will be bulk billed after 9.00am Monday to Friday.  

Anyone who does not have a pension or concession card or is over 16 years of age will be required to pay the full private fee.  

Saturday consultations are full private fees.

Failure to attend your appointment may incur a No Show fee.

If you no longer require your appointment, please ensure to cancel prior to the scheduled time.

This private contribution will help cover the increasing gap between Medicare and the cost of running a practice.

Bulk billing will continue for:

• Chronic Condition Care Plans, 0ver-75 Health Assessments, ATSI Health Assessments
• DVA patients

Q. What is the fee in 2024 for private patients?

The private gap after Medicare rebate for consultations in 2023 will increase by CPI to $42. The gap for procedures such as skin excisions will be $84.

Q. What is the fee in 2024 for concession-card holders under 67?

FOR CONSULTATIONS: 

   Concession-card holders under 67 will pay a gap of $28 in 2023, discounted from the full gap of $42.

FOR PROCEDURES SUCH AS SKIN EXCISIONS:

   Concession-card holders under 67 will pay a gap of $56 in 2023, discounted from the full gap of $84.

Q. Which patients will continue to be bulk billed?

Consultations for Pension Card Holders, Concession Card Holders & Children under 16 years of age will be bulk billed after 9.00am Monday to Friday.  

Q. What about appointments outside standard hours?

These consultations will be privately billed for all patients. ‘Outside standard hours’ means appointments at a Saturday clinic or on weekdays before 9am and after 5pm, as well as after-hours visits. An after-hours call-out has a minimum gap of $150.  

Q. What about Care Plans and Health Assessments?

Chronic Condition Care Plans, Over-75 Health Assessments, ATSI Health Assessments will still be bulk billed.

Q. Is there a fee for a missed appointment?

Yes, where there is a no-show to an appointment, a fee will apply. Any cancellation needs to be made in time for the appointment slot to be offered to another patient.

If you have any questions, please feel free to ask a receptionist or our Practice Manager.

Thank you.

WtMed, The Doctors on Erin St40 Erin St, WILSONTON, Ph. 07-4633 1366

Skin cancer checks are available every day at The Doctors on Erin Street.  We will check your whole body from head to toe and advise you on best practice management of any suspicious lesions. We use dermatoscopy and photography to assist us with making the most appropriate diagnosis.

If necessary we can treat with liquid nitrogen, biopsy or excision of skin lesions.  Come and see us today.

Come and see the friendly weight loss Doctors on Erin Street and get the help you need.

 

We will investigate to make sure there are no medical causes, then help you understand why you are overweight.  We will also look for any medical issues that being overweight may have caused.  Once these issues have been addressed we will teach you what you need to know in order to lose weight, AND keep it off.

Motivation is an important part of losing weight, and we will help you with this also, keeping in close contact with you through your weight loss journey.

Learn about carbs, protein and fat and how they influence your weight and existing medical conditions.  Learn about Keto, 5/2, Paleo,  low carb,  calorie counting diets and which may be best for you.

Top weight loss tips:

1. Eat less carbs – ie sugar, bread, potato, rice, pasta etc
2. Eat only when hungry (really hungry).  Don’t eat just because its lunch time!
3. Eat real food – not processed food (food that comes in a packet – a packet of food that says ‘low-carb’ is very likely NOT low carb) – if the food you buy does not have a list of ingredients, then you are on the right track
4. Measure your progress wisely by weighing and measuring your waist circumference
5. Do not eat ‘Everything in moderation’ – eat as little garbage as possible
6. Be persistent – weight loss requires long term change
7. Avoid fruit – use as an occasional treat only if possible; if you must eat fruit a handful of berries is best
8. Avoid drinking beer – wine or spirits have less carbs
9. Avoid diet drinks and artificial sweeteners – these actually increase your appetite and make losing weight harder
10. Review your medications with your doctor – many medications MAY affect your ability to gain or lose weight
11. Improve your sleep quality and duration – talk to your doctor for tips on this
12. Reduce stress
13. Exercise – helps SO LONG AS you are already doing everything above.  What you put in your mouth gives far more bang for your buck than exercising.  Interval training and strength training are best.

Q fever vaccination is available at Doctors on Erin Street.

Vaccination against Q fever is recommended for anyone exposed to sheep, cattle, camels, goats and kangaroos or their products, or products of conception.  This includes but is not limited to farmers, graziers, feedlot workers, meat workers, roo shooters etc.

Even brief exposure to Q fever is enough to give you an infection.

Process

The process is simple: We need to see you on two days, exactly one week apart.  On the first day you will get a blood test and skin test.  We then see you exactly 7 days later, at which time we will read the blood test and skin test and decide if you need a vaccination.

If you are vaccinated or found to be already immune to Q fever, your details are sent (with your consent) to the Australian Q Fever Register.  They will subsequently send you a card which identifies your immunisation status.

This process including the vaccination costs approximately $400 and is non-refundable through Medicare.  If it is required for your employment it is usually tax-deductible.

Dr John Heinrich is accredited by the Government to provide Q fever vaccination services.

Further information

For further information regarding Q fever see qfeverfacts.com.au

The Doctors on Erin Street,  Wilsonton, have a special interest in men’s health.  Talk to us about erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, testicle lumps and mens sexual health issues.

Male infertility:

which can have many causes, is often treatable and should be investigated before starting assisted reproductive technologies.

Prostate disease:

more common in the older male, can make urinating difficult. Treatment is available, often in the form of drugs or surgery.

Erectile dysfunction:

commonly referred to as impotence, can happen as a result of another underlying health problem such as diabetes. There are not any specific treatments that will cure erectile dysfunction, but there are treatments that will allow erections to happen.

Androgen deficiency:

is linked with low testosterone levels, which can play a part in feelings of low energy and easy fatigue, irritability and a reduced sex drive. Once the diagnosis of androgen deficiency is made, treatment can begin with a positive effect on quality of life.

Testicular cancer:

often thought to be a young man’s disease, has a high survival rate if detected early. Self-examination of the testis should be encouraged for early detection.

The 2024 Flu vaccine  is now available at WTMed.  We recommend everyone gets a flu vaccine.  They are free for those patients over the age of 65 and for those patients with certain medical conditions.  Make an appointment by phoning 4633 1366 or visiting wtmed.com.au to book online.

 

Bulk billing for Pensioners, Healthcare card holders, children and DVA gold-card patients is available.  Appointments are available; book online at our website.

Vaccinations against shingles are now available, for those patients over the age of 50.  These vaccines are provided free by the Government for those people aged over 65; please check costs for other patients with our friendly reception staff.

Shingles, also known as herpes zoster, is caused by the varicella zoster virus, which is also responsible for chickenpox. It occurs because of a reactivation of the chickenpox virus, which remains in the nerve cells of the body after an attack of chickenpox. People who contract chickenpox are at risk of developing shingles later in life, since the virus lies dormant in the body. Fortunately, it is rare to have more than one attack of shingles.

Anyone who has had chickenpox can develop shingles. However, people who have never had chickenpox can catch the virus from another person with shingles. A person who has never had chickenpox, but comes into contact with a case of shingles, would develop chickenpox (not shingles).

Skin Cancer is one of our priority areas of interest here at West Toowoomba Medical Centre.