From Monday 27 January 2025, fees will apply to GP (doctor) and Paediatric appointments for some clients.
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North Richmond Community Health (NRCH) has been proudly providing free services to all individuals and families in our community for 50 years.
Due to increasing costs and funding limitations, we have made the difficult decision to introduce fees to some clients for medical services. This change will help NRCH stay sustainable over the long term, allowing us to continue providing high-quality and accessible healthcare to everyone in our community.
Most of our clients will continue to receive free, bulk billed services and will not be charged a fee. If you are charged a fee and are not able to pay, please discuss this with your doctors.
Clients that will continue to receive free, bulk billed services include:
- People with a health care card or Commonwealth concession card
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Children under 16 years of age
- DVA card holders
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- People experiencing homelessness.
New fees for GP and Paediatric appointments from Monday 27 January 2025:
GP appointments
| Consultation type | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard 15-minute consultation | |||
| Long consultation | |||
| Extended consultation | |||
| Late cancellation (less than 24 hours) / Did not attend fee (applies to everyone, regardless of bulk billing eligibility) |
Paediatrician appointments
| Consultation type | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard initial Paediatric consult | |||
| Review Paediatric consult | |||
| Long initial Paediatric consult | |||
| Complex Paediatric consult | |||
| Late cancellation (less than 24 hours) / Did not attend fee (applies to everyone, regardless of bulk billing eligibility) |
Other appointments
| Consultation type | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Iron infusion | |||
| Flu vaccine - Non govt funded + travel vaccine | |||
| Implanon insertion | |||
| Implanon removal | |||
| Late cancellation (less than 24 hours) / Did not attend fee (applies to everyone, regardless of bulk billing eligibility) |
Other services will also introduce fees in early 2025 to help ensure we can continue to provide the support our community needs, over the long term.
Frequently asked questions:
Why is NRCH charging fees for medical services?
As a not-for-profit community health service, this fee helps cover the gap between the Medicare rebate and the actual costs of providing these important services to our community. NRCH already charges out-of-pocket fees for dental services, and now we are doing the same for medical services to ensure we can continue to deliver high-quality care.
Who is eligible for bulk billing (no fee)?
- People with a health care card or Commonwealth concession card
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
- Children under 16 years of age
- DVA card holders
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- People experiencing homelessness.
How much will I pay for a GP appointment?
The total cost to you after the Medicare rebate will be between $20 and $80, depending on the type of your appointment.
The full cost you can expect to pay on the day you visit will be between $20 and $153, depending on the type of your appointment. After you pay the full cost, we will claim a Medicare rebate for you which will be deposited into your bank account.
The fee will be the same no matter what day or time your appointment is.
How much will I pay for a Paediatric appointment?
The total cost to you after the Medicare rebate will be between $100 and $150, depending on the type of your appointment.
The full cost you can expect to pay on the day you visit will be between $163 and $372, depending on the type of your appointment. After you pay the full cost, we will claim a Medicare rebate for you which will be deposited into your bank account.
The fee will be the same no matter what day or time your appointment is.
What if I can’t afford the co-payment but don’t have a health care card or concession card?
Please talk to your doctor about your individual circumstances.
If you would like help applying for a health care card, our staff can assist you.
What if my health care card has expired or I’ve lost it?
Please speak to our Reception team who can help you obtain a new health care card.
You can also visit Services Australia, who are available for appointments at NRCH or at the Hive Shopping Centre on Victoria Street (just a 5-minute walk away).
How do I pay for my appointment?
You will need to pay for your GP or Paediatric appointment at the Reception desk immediately after your appointment. All visits with other clinicians, such as physiotherapists or speech pathologists, will need to be paid before your appointment.
If your appointment is via telehealth, we will send you a payment link via HotDoc. Once you have paid online, we will process your Medicare rebate and it will be deposited into your bank account.
All payments can be made via EFTPOS using your debit or credit card, and your Medicare rebate will usually be in your bank account within 24 hours.
Payment in cash is not encouraged, however this can be made available to you. If you pay in cash, you will need to claim the rebate from Medicare yourself using your receipt.
What happens if I miss my appointment or don’t cancel in time?
If you miss an appointment without telling us or cancel with less than 24 hours’ notice, you will be charged a $40 fee.
