Seeing your Doctor
Appointments
Our appointment system caters for urgent, not urgent, complex, planned chronic care and preventative healthcare. Consultations are time based. The normal consultation time allocation is 15 minutes. This would usually allow the doctor to cover one or two non-complicated issues. Multiple issues, problem lists, and more complex problems are not suited to a standard consultation and will need a longer appointment. Please let the reception staff know if this is required at the time of booking.
Emergency Appointments
A number of emergency appointments are made available each day for urgent care. Contact our reception staff to make an Appointment.
Home Visits: Residential Care Facilities
If you are a regular patient and cannot travel to the medical practice, your doctor may be able to visit you at home or in your Residential Care Facility. This is at the discretion of your doctor. The consultation will be billed at the same rate as a face-to-face appointment.
Telehealth
If you are a regular patient and you’re unable to travel to the medical practice, telehealth appointments may be available. Telehealth appointments are at the discretion of your doctor. Please contact the practice for more information.
Medicare rebates only apply for these consultations if you have had a face-to-face appointment in the clinic within the last 12 months.
Waiting times
Sometimes Doctor’s are delayed by patients with urgent or complex issues. We apologise if you’re asked to wait and thank you for your patience.
After hours and emergency care
Health Direct on 1800 022 222
Armidale Rural Referral Hospital
226 Rusden Street, Armidale
(02) 6776 9500
Or Dial 000 for an Ambulance
Fees, payments and rebates
Bulk Billing
Health on Rusden is a private billing practice staffed by Independent Practitioners.
We do not routinely bulk bill. Decisions regarding bulk billing are made by your doctor.
The following may be eligible for bulk billing:
- Hold a Department of Veteran Affairs Gold or White concession Card.
- Children 12 years and under.
- Are receiving an immunization/vaccination under the National Influenza or National Immunisation Program.
- Care plans, Health assessments, Medication reviews.
Patients who hold a Commonwealth Pension concession card may be offered a discounted fee.
Medicare Rebates
If your banking details are registered with Medicare, we can process your Medicare rebate which will go directly into your Medicare nominated bank account. This may take up to 5 working days.
Prescriptions
We currently run a script clinic every morning from 8.30am to 9.30am. No bookings are required. The fee for this is $35.00 with a rebate of $18.95. Only existing patients are eligible for script clinics.
Scripts requested via telephone will incur a fee of $35.00 with no Medicare rebate.
A face-to-face appointment is required to be eligible for a Medicare rebate.
Patients requesting a script for S8 Medications will need to make an appointment to see their doctor. These consultations will be charged at the appropriate rates, Medicare rebates apply.
All scripts MUST be paid for on the day.
Payment
Payment is required on the day of consultation and can be made by cash, EFTPOS or Credit Card (excluding Diners and AMEX cards).
All workers compensation and motor vehicle accident patients are required to pay their accounts at the time of consultation until a letter of liability is received from their insurance company. Medicare rebates do not apply for these consultations.
Practice Fees from 15th July 2024
Fees charged by Employee Doctors and Registrars are as follows:
| Item Number | Consultation Fee (Private) | Discounted Fee (Pension) | Medicare Rebate | Gap (Private) | Gap (Pension) | |
| Short Consultation | 3 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $19.60 | $40.40 | $40.40 |
| Standard Consultation | 23 | $100.00 | $80.00 | $42.85 | $57.15 | $37.15 |
| Long Consultation | 36 | $155.00 | $125.00 | $82.90 | $72.10 | $42.85 |
| Prolonged Consultation | 44 | $200.00 | $170.00 | $122.15 | $77.85 | $47.85 |
| Professional Attendance Consultation (Level E) | 123 | $250.00 | $225.00 | $197.90 | $52.10 | $27.10 |
| Short Telehealth Consultation | 91890 | $60.00 | $60.00 | $19.60 | $40.40 | $40.40 |
| Long Telehealth Consultation | 91891 | $100.00 | $80.00 | $42.85 | $57.15 | $37.15 |
| Item Number | Consultation Fee (Private) | |
| Short Consultation | 3 | $55.00 |
| Standard Consultation | 23 | $95.00 |
| Long Consultation | 36 | $145.00 |
| Prolonged Consultation | 44 | $190.00 |
| Professional Attendance Consult. (Level E) | 123 | $250.00 |
| Short Telehealth Consultation | 91890 | $60.00 |
| Long Telehealth Consultation | 91891 | $100.00 |
| Discounted Fee (Pension) | Medicare Rebate | |
| Short Consultation | $55.00 | $18.95 |
| Standard Consultation | $75.00 | $41.40 |
| Long Consultation | $115.00 | $80.10 |
| Prolonged Consultation | $160.00 | $118.00 |
| Professional Attendance Consult. (Level E) | $225.00 | $197.90 |
| Short Telehealth Consultation | $60.00 | $19.60 |
| Long Telehealth Consultation | $100.00 | $80.00 |
| Gap (Private) | Gap (Pension) | |
| Short Consultation | $36.05 | $36.05 |
| Standard Consultation | $53.60 | $33.60 |
| Long Consultation | $64.90 | $34.90 |
| Prolonged Consultation | $72.00 | $42.00 |
| Professional Attendance Consult. (Level E) | $52.10 | $27.10 |
| Short Telehealth Consultation | $40.40 | $40.40 |
| Long Telehealth Consultation | $57.15 | $37.15 |
Fees are subject to change, please confirm with reception.
Health on Rusden is staffed by Independent Practitioners, who set their own fees for consultation. The above fees are indicative only. For further information and consultation fees please refer to the individual Independent Practitioner’s web page.