Patient Information

Medicare Rebate and Referrals

A Medicare claim will be lodged electronically after payment is taken. Medicare shall then deposit the rebate to the bank account you have previously provided to them. The rebate you receive is determined by Medicare and the Medicare Safety Net. Please note that cosmetic procedures do not have a Medicare rebate.

To be eligible for a Medicare rebate, a valid referral must be presented at the time of your appointment. Referrals from your general practitioner (GP) are typically valid for 12 months, provided you have regular follow up appointments with the dermatologist during that period for the same condition. Referrals from other specialists are valid for 3 months.

Please note that a new referral is required for annual skin checks, conditions that have not been reviewed for more than 9 months, and new conditions to ensure continued Medicare eligibility.

We do not accept indefinite referrals in order to maintain the highest standard of patient care. Under Medicare guidelines, a new referral is appropriate over the course of a year as patients’ clinical situations regularly change over the course of a year. A referral from a general practitioner (GP) represents a clinical handover that ensures both the dermatologist and GP are updated with any relevant changes in the patient’s health, such as new medications or the development of other conditions. Regular updates through renewed referrals help support coordinated and safe ongoing care.

Our dermatologists can see patients without a referral; however, please be aware that there will be no Medicare rebate in such cases.

If unsure, please check the validity and expiry date of your referral letter with our administration staff when booking your subsequent visit.

Professional Fees

We are a private billing clinic. Due to the cost of providing specialist medical services, we do not bulk bill.

Our reception staff can provide guidance on standard consultation fees. Any additional procedures or treatments will incur additional costs. If a biopsy or surgical excision is required, the specimen will be sent to a specialist pathology provider for analysis. Please note, you will receive a separate invoice from the pathology provider, and a Medicare rebate may apply to those services.

Full payment is required at the time of your consultation. For your convenience, we accept payment by cash, Visa, and Mastercard. We do not accept American Express. We can also submit your Medicare claim electronically on your behalf.

The Sydney Dermatology Group consists of private billing clinics providing services to independent doctors. Each of our doctors operates as an independent practitioner, autonomously determining their fees and managing all aspects of their services. While we may provide indicative fee estimates, the final fee is at the discretion of your doctor.

Department of Veteran Affairs Gold Card, appropriate White Card holders, and Australian Defence Force members are treated without gap payments.

Cancellations

As appointments are in high demand, we kindly ask that you provide at least 24 hours’ notice if you need to cancel or reschedule. This allows us to offer the appointment to another patient. A non-attendance fee may apply if you do not notify our reception team by phone in advance.

Prescriptions

Repeat prescriptions may be provided without a consultation if you have attended the practice within the past 12 months. However, in certain cases, more frequent reviews may be necessary at your doctor’s discretion. 

New Patient Information

Please bring any relevant medical records or test results you may have to your appointment. This includes details of your current medication, pathology reports, blood tests, imaging, or biopsy results. You will also need your referral letter, and your Medicare card.