From Monday 3rd June 2024 our consultation fees will be increasing.
Each year the costs of operating a medical practice increase. To ensure the viability and sustainability of Health Matters we need to increase our consultation fees to cover these higher operating costs. In this way, we can guarantee that Health Matters will be here to continue to deliver the high-quality health care that you, your family, and the community deserve, in the long term.
NEW CONSULTATION FEES: From 3rd June 2024 our practice will be charging you the following fees for our most common services:
| Consultation Type | Fee | Medicare Rebate | Out of Pocket |
| Brief Consult | $45.00 | $18.95 | $26.05 |
| Standard Consult | $84.00 | $41.40 | $42.60 |
| Long Consult | $150.00 | $80.10 | $69.90 |
| Prolonged consult | $250.00 | $118.00 | $132.00 |
To some of our Health Matters’ friends who are not eligible for concession cards, we have been charitable in the past and accepted your Medicare Rebate as full payment for your consultations. Unfortunately, such payment arrangements are no longer sustainable moving forward. The indexation of Medicare Rebates has not kept pace with the increasing costs of operating a medical practice and bulk-billing incentive payments are not applicable in these circumstances. Health Matters needs to remain viable and sustainable for the benefit of you, your family, and the community, so please expect an out of pocket fee in the future if this situation applies to you.
Please keep in mind that most general practice out of pocket fees you pay will go towards your Medicare Safety Net threshold. Once you’ve reached the thresholds, you’ll start getting higher Medicare benefits. This means you’ll get more money back from Medicare for certain services. For more information on the Medicare Safety Nets, please go to https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-safety-nets
2024 Medicare Safety Nets thresholds
| Thresholds | Threshold amount | Who it’s for | What counts towards threshold | What benefit you’ll get back |
| Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN) | $560.40 | Everyone in Medicare | Your gap amount for the calendar year. | 100% of the schedule fee for out of hospital services. |
| Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN)- General | $2544.30 | Everyone in Medicare | Your out of pocket amount for the calendar year. | 80% of out of pocket costs or the EMSN benefit caps for out of hospital services. |
| Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) - Concessional & Family Tax Benefit Part A | $811.800 | Concession cardholders and families eligible for Family Tax Benefit Part A | Your out of pocket amount for the calendar year. | 80% of out of pocket costs or the EMSN benefits caps for out of hospital services. |
