Please find below the answers to our frequently asked questions.
If you require any further information, please contact our friendly reception staff on 03 9088 7448 or email info@melcre.com.au.
To ensure that the Doctors can provide you with the most accurate and comprehensive care, please bring the following items to your first appointment:
Medicare Card
Your Medicare card is essential for processing your appointment and ensuring you receive any applicable benefits.
GP/specialist Referral or other correspondence
A referral from your General Practitioner or any other specialist correspondence is necessary to understand your medical history and the reason for your visit. This documentation allows the Doctors to tailor their approach to your specific needs. A referral is also required to claim a medicare benefit for your consultation.
Previous Imaging
If you have any previous imaging studies, such as X-rays, MRI or CT scans, please bring these with you to your appointment. These images provide critical information about your condition and help in diagnosing and planning your treatment.
Current Medications
Full list of all your current medications including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medications, herbal remedies, and vitamins. This information is crucial for the Doctors to consider all aspects of your health.
Private health details (if applicable)
If you have private health cover or overseas health cover please bring the details including member number to your appointment.
Please contact our office to cancel or reschedule your appointment, so we can offer space to other patients who may be waiting for an appointment. Failure to notify our rooms of cancellation within 48 hours of appointment time may incur a cancellation fee.
Unfortunately on some occasions we may need to reschedule your appointment due to emergencies that may impact your planned appointment. Should this occur we will be in touch and endeavour to reschedule at a convenient time. Likewise, sometimes our doctors will be running late, and if this is occurs, we will notify you where possible.
During your initial appointment your current medical problem and previous medical history and previous surgery will be discussed. An examination may need to be conducted and patients with anal problems may need a physical examination of this region.
Following examination doctors will discuss the plan for further investigations or scans. If you require surgery your doctor will outline the options for surgery and the risks and benefit of the proposed procedure.
Telehealth appointments are available on request. Please note that some problems will require physical examination and thus some patients may require a further in person consultation for examination.
We are a private billing clinic. Consultation and surgery fees are set by the individual doctors. Medicare rebates are available for patients with a medicare card.
Doctors’ consultation fees are available by calling our rooms. Fees for initial appointment will be sent out with your appointment letter.
Surgery can be performed in private or public hospitals:
Private patients:
Insured patients
Patients having surgery in a private hospital will be provided with an informed financial consent that outlines the estimated cost for surgery and rebate from the private health fund. In most instances there is a ‘gap’ between the surgical fee and the rebate from the health fund. The rebate you receive from your health fund will depend on your fund, level of cover and the surgical operation item number.
We advise that you contact your health fund prior to your planned surgery to check you are covered for the planned procedure and to establish the benefit your health fund will pay for your procedure.
Unfortunately, in recent years the medicare benefits schedule and health fund rebates have not kept up with inflation and the increased costs of running a medical practice, resulting in larger gap payments.
Uninsured/self-funding patients:
Patient without insurance can choose to self-fund their procedure in a private hospital. In this instance we will provide a quote for the full cost of treatment. In most instances payment is requested prior to the date of surgery.
Other costs
Other costs incurred in private hospital care include the anaesthetist and surgical assistant. The anaesthetist will usually contact you prior to your planned surgery to discuss cost.
Public patients:
Our surgeons work at The Royal Melbourne Hospital and Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. Patients with a medicare card (or reciprocal agreement) can receive surgery in public hospitals at no cost. If appropriate your surgeon will place you directly on the public hospital waiting list for planned surgery.
Whilst our surgeons can assist by placing you on the public hospital waitlist, we have no control over public hospital waiting times or theatre scheduling. If you are on the public hospital waiting list and have queries about when your surgery will occur, we recommend you contact the public hospital directly.