Fee Information – Rehabilitation & Treatment
Our fees are reviewed every 12 months. Our current fees are as follows (August 2023).
Dr Sharman’s fees
Patients referred to Dr Sharman as an occupational specialist.
Initial Referred Consultation (up to 60″) $525
Review Consultation (up to 20”) $180
Extended Review Consultation (20-45”) $325
Prolonged Review Consultation (45″ – 60″) $475
Extended Review consultation with Complex Co-morbidities (60″-90″). $655
The time included to determine the appropriate consultation fee can include professional time spent reviewing documentation, preparing referral letters / other clinical correspondence and telephone calls conducted during the consultation. Higher fees may apply for consultations at workplaces or for the management of more complex conditions in some circumstances.
Additional fees will be charged for meetings with rehabilitation providers, case conferences or visits to your workplace to facilitate rehabilitation. Separate itemised charges will be made for telephone consultations, telephone contact with rehabilitation providers and liaison with other key contacts e.g. health professionals, employers or insurer representatives.
GST does not apply to medical treatment costs. Reports of a medico-legal nature requested by lawyers or insurance companies are billed to the requesting party. The rate charged is $650.00 per hour plus GST.
Responsibility for Payment of Fees
While payment of fees is the responsibility of the patient, where there is an accepted Workers’ Compensation or Motor Accident Insurance Board claim, the accounts will normally be sent direct to the relevant employer/insurer, unless otherwise agreed. See also Fee Information for Insurers and Third Party Payers
Where a claim has been submitted to an employer/insurer, but the claim has not been accepted i.e. the claim is ‘pending’ or is in ‘dispute’, the fee arrangements will be discussed on a ‘case by case’ basis. The accounts can be forwardede to the employer/insurer for their consideration, forwarded to the patient for payment (with the option to claim with Medicare) or, in some situations, accounts can be held pending resolution of issues about liability.
Where accounts are forwarded to the patient in circumstances where a workers’ compensation claim has been lodged but liability has not been accepted by the employer/insurer, we recommend that a copy of the account be provided to the relevant employer/insurer to demonstrate that the expense has been incurred.
Tasmanian Workers’ Compensation legislation makes provision for employers/insurers to cover reasonable medical costs (up to $5,000) where a claim is made on a ‘without prejudice’ basis until liability is determined.
In limited circumstances fees can be discounted by agreement on a ‘case by case’ basis e.g. in circumstances of financial hardship.
Medicare Rebates
This practice does not bulk bill to Medicare.
Medicare rebates, where applicable, cover only a proportion of the fees charged by Dr Sharman as follows:
Initial Medically-referred Consultation (MBS Item 385 fee $88.25) Rebate – $75.05
Review Consultation (MBS Item 386 fee $44.35) Rebate – $37.70
There is no Medicare rebate for telephone consultations or most meetings.
Terms and Conditions
Accounts are to be paid within 21 days from the date of invoice. If payment is not made within this time, an interest charge can be made at the doctor’s discretion, charged on the basis of 20% per annum, calculated daily from the due date of the invoice to the date of payment.
In circumstances where an invoice/account has been held or agreement reached that payment can be deferred pending resolution of liability issues, the treating doctor can, at his discretion, after a period of 60 days has elapsed from the time of provision of the service and issuing of a updated invoice, require the following of the person responsible for the account:
- Submit the invoice to Medicare for a rebate and authorise Medicare to pay the rebate direct to the practice (subject to Medicare eligibility)
- Pay any balance of the invoice (net of rebate) within 30 days of receiving the invoice
Where an invoice/account for services provided remains outstanding for 60 days because it is disputed for any reason by the Employer/Insurer, the doctor can require the following of the person responsible for the account:
- Submit the invoice to Medicare for a rebate and authorise Medicare to pay the rebate direct to the practice (subject to Medicare eligibility)
- Pay any balance of the invoice (net of rebate) within 30 days of receiving the invoice
Any queries about billing or accounts, our billing policies should be directed to our Practice Manager, email practicemanager@201davey.com.au.
See also our remittance advice procedure
Revised and updated August 2023
