Dr Cooke has set his own private fee which sits in between the Medicare Schedule fee and the AMA fee. Dr Cooke does take special circumstances into consideration, so if you feel it necessary, it is important that you speak to Dr Cooke about your fees.
Dr Cooke does see patients from Workcover, DVA and those who require medico-legal assessments. Separate fees schedules are used for these patients and are typically billed directly to the appropriate organization.
Dr Cooke does not offer discounts for Health Care Card holders. He attends Princess Alexandra Hospital Public Out-patients for those in financial need.
Consultation costs:
First consultation: When you visit Dr Cooke for the first time, you will be charged a long consultation fee as Dr Cooke needs to spend extra time with you gathering your medical history. You will receive a portion of this visit’s fee back through the Medicare rebate.
Subsequent consultation: A lower fee is charged when you see the doctor again. This is because less time is usually needed once the doctor has become familiar with your condition. Post operative Consultation Depending upon the operation the cost of some of your post operative appointments are included in the surgical fee.
Payment of Fees: Our staff will outline the exact costs to you when you ring for an appointment. We ask for full payment at the time of the appointment accepting cash, cheques, EFTPOS and most credit cards (not American Express or Diners Card). You will receive an receipt from these consultations. Our practice can submit your claim to work cover for you.
If you are a Work Cover patient you must bring with you your claim number so we can make a claim on your behalf. If you do not provide this then you will be responsible for payment. If you are a DVA patient you must bring with you your appropriate cards for verification and claiming purposes.
Extra costs: If a procedure is performed at the time of the consultation (for example a joint injection) you will be charged for this.
Surgical Fees: Once Dr Cooke has informed you of the need for an operation, our staff will give you an estimate of the costs for your particular surgery. Each operation has a different item number and fee. As well, each health fund has a different policy for payments to both patients and doctors. This makes the estimate and billing process all that much harder to navigate. (It would be wise to talk to your health fund to ensure your level of cover prior to your surgery).
The estimate we provide to you, will include the costs for Dr Cooke, his surgical assistant, your rebate and any out of pocket costs. Generally speaking, there will be a gap to pay that is not covered by the Medicare Rebate or your Health Fund. You will need to pay the gap or the co-payment before proceeding with surgery.
We will also provide you with the Anaesthetist’s name and practice contact details and it is important that you make contact with this Anaesthetist to determine his costs. The fees charged by the Anaesthetist are separate from the fees charged by the hospital or by Dr Cooke. The anaesthestic fees vary dependent upon the complexity and duration of the anaesthesia. It is your responsibility to pay the Anaesthetist for the services they provide. You may be able to claim a rebate from Medicare as well as from your private health fund (assuming you have private health insurance).
Depending on the surgical procedure and your medical health, Dr Cooke may require you to have a consultation with a General Physician prior to your surgery. We can make this appointment for you. You will be responsible for the fee charged by this Physician.
Depending upon your level of Private Health Insurance you may also receive an account from the Hospital, Radiology, Pharmacy, or Physiotherapy. There may also be costs for rehabilitation devices such as knee braces or crutches. These accounts generally arrive after your surgery and are separate and independent of Dr Cooke’s cost. Our Secretary will be able to advise you in relation to gaining quotes for such items.
Please remember that this is a quotation only, and Dr Cooke may have to do more or in some cases, less than initially expected which could cause a difference in costs to those originally quoted.
Trauma Procedures: By its very nature, Orthopaedic Trauma work can be quite difficult, often is not timed conveniently and can be distressing for the patient. Despite this Dr Cooke has a particular interest in the management of trauma and has spent considerable time gaining additional expertise in this area. The Medicare recommended fees are not commensurate with equivalent elective procedures. Added to this is the after hours nature of this work and follow-up care. It is for this reason that Dr Cooke charges (for trauma procedures only) the AMA recommended fees.
Summary: Estimating the costs for surgical procedures does appear quite complicated and our staff will do their best to help you understand the costs within the private health care framework. It is very important that you understand and are well informed regarding your financial commitment to Dr Cooke prior to your surgery. Please do not hesitate to call us any time to discuss any financial concerns you may have.
