Outpatient clinic information

Private clinics

Bulk billed clinics are staffed by specialists. In many instances registrars will also be present and involved in the patients care.
Referrals are required to be named to a particular specialist.
In most instances patients are assigned to the specialist of their choice. Occasionally patients may be assigned to another specialist from the same specialty if:
- a specialist is on leave
- there is a shorter waitlist
- there is a clinical requirement.
There is no charge to the patient if they are Medicare eligible, as the patient will be bulk billed.
The recovery of costs received from bulk billing patients assists in improving patient services within the HHS and also provides the facilities with the capacity to independently fund medical research.

‘Out-of-pocket’ clinics are staffed by specialists.
Referrals are required to be named to a particular specialist.
Patients are guaranteed to see the specialist of their choice in all instances.
Waiting times are generally shorter than public clinics.
Specialists set their own fee under this model of care (this fee varies from Schedule fee to AMA rates).
If the patient is Medicare Eligible, Medicare will pay 85% of the Medicare Schedule Fee and the patient is required to pay the remaining gap.
The recovery of costs received from private patients assists in improving patient services within the HHS and also provides the facilities with the capacity to independently fund medical research.

Public clinics in most instances are staffed by visiting medical officers and registrars.
Public patients do not have a choice of specialist and referrals are not required to be named to a particular specialist.
There is no charge payable for public patients provided that they are a Medicare eligible patient.