General Information for Patients

IFMC is not a bulk-billing clinic.  Standard consultation fees are listed in the table below and vary with the length, complexity and type of consultation. 

Fee table only applies to standard consultations.  Please ask receptionist for fees for other services, such as medicals. 

Fees are payable at the time of consultation by cash, EFTPOS or credit card (we do not accept American Express). 

Your claim can be electronically transmitted to Medicare so that your rebate can be directly deposited into your bank account, if you have previously registered your bank details with Medicare. 

Bulk billing is at the discretion of the doctor that you see at the time of your consultation.     

If you are having financial difficulties, please do not neglect your health. Discuss this with your doctor or the practice manager.

Please note:

• It is a Medicare requirement that you present your Medicare card at the time of each consultation.
• After hours rates apply before 8am on weekdays.
• Weekend rates apply on Saturday and Sunday.
• There is no Medicare rebate for Travel Health consultations and vaccinations.
• There is no Medicare rebate for Pre-Employment or Insurance Medicals.
• Worker's Compensation consultations are billed at WorkCover approved rates.
• Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) patients are billed directly to DVA.  Patients are asked to present their card at each visit. 
• Aged pensioners or Health Care Card holders may be offered a discounted fee. Patients are asked to present their card at each visit. 
• IFMC has an arrangement with BUPA and AHM for billing overseas students.  Patients are asked to present their card at each visit. 

Appointment times are:

Appointments are made by calling the practice on (02) 4252 5200. 

Consultations are by appointment only, however appointments are always available for urgent matters.

Our receptionists are trained to assess the urgency of medical problems.  They may need to ask you about the nature of your problem so they can help you determine when you need an appointment. 

The length of a standard appointment is 15 minutes.

It is important for other patients waiting that appointments run to the scheduled time. If you have a number of health issues to discuss, or a complex issue, then please ask reception to book a longer appointment.  If more than one person wishes to see the doctor please make separate appointments.

Please remember that many of our doctors work part-time.

On some occasions you may not be able to see your normal doctor, but be confident that quality care will be provided by one of our other doctors, and, if necessary, your normal doctor will be consulted to ensure continuity of care.

Doctor Availability (see Our Team).

Please note that doctor availability is subject to change.

*  Dr Butler works alternate Mondays and Fridays.  Dr Noble works alternate Fridays.

#  Weekends are covered on a rotational basis. Please ask reception for details.

Please advise reception when booking your appointment if it is for something other than a standard consultation.

IFMC makes 30 minute (long) appointments for certain consultations, including:

• New patient appointments;
• Procedures (including biopsies, excisions, Implanon insertion/removal and Mirena insertion/removal);
• Mental Health consultations;
• Travel Advice consultations;
• Pre-Employment and Insurance Medicals;
• WorkCover and Third Party consultations; and
• Completion of Paperwork (including forms for Centrelink, Roads and Maritime Services, Insurance Companies etc.).

Please bring all medical paperwork or forms with you to the consultation. 

Many organisations have specific forms that cannot be duplicated. 

If you cannot attend an appointment we request 4 hours notice where possible otherwise you may be charged a fee.

If you arrive late for your appointment, you may be asked to reschedule.

Home visits may be arranged for established patients whose condition prevents them from attending the surgery.

Home visits are at the discretion of your doctor. Please call the practice on (02) 4252 5200 to arrange a suitable time.

Many IFMC doctors have regular scheduled visits to local nursing homes (see Our Team), including:

• Coniston Nursing Home;
• Hillside at Figtree;
• Illawarra Diggers' Aged and Community Care;
• IRT Links Seaside;
• IRT Towradgi Park;
• St Andrew's Olunda Nursing Home;
• Unanderra Care Services; and
• Wollongong Nursing Home.

IFMC welcomes all new patients, including overseas students.

Please call the practice on (02) 4252 5200 to make an appointment.

New patient appointments are 30 minutes long to give your doctor the time they need to review your medical history.  

If applicable, please bring your current medication and any other relevant information with you to your appointment.   

IFMC has an arrangement with BUPA and AHM for overseas students to pay the gap only for medical consultations.   

Please remember to bring your Medicare, health benefit or BUPA/AHM cards.

IFMC encourages patients to make an appointment before they run out of medication for repeat prescriptions. 

These consultations are important in order to review that the medication and dosage is the most appropriate treatment for you.

It is not usual policy to issue prescriptions without appointments. 

Repeat prescriptions without appointment are only available to established patients for medications that your doctor has previously prescribed.  You will need to provide the receptionist with the exact name and strength of the medication you need. An appointment is required for authority medications and opioid medications.  Lost prescriptions may only be re-issued by the doctor. Please provide 48 hours notice. A fee will be charged for this service and you will be required to collect your prescription from reception. IFMC does not post or fax prescriptions.

If you need a medication that was prescribed by a different doctor, specialist or hospital, or if you have not seen your doctor in the past three months, you will need an appointment.  

IFMC encourages patients to make an appointment before they require a referral.

These consultations are important in order to review you condition and ensure the most appropriate treatment for you.

It is not usual policy to issue referrals without appointments. 

Repeat referrals without appointment are only available to established patients for referrals that your doctor has previously issued. Lost referrals may only be re-issued by the doctor. Please provide 48 hours notice. A fee will be charged for this service and you will be required to collect your referral from reception. IFMC does not post or fax referrals.

If you need a referral to a specialist that you have not seen before, or if you have not seen your doctor in the past three months, you will need an appointment. If you need a referral for investigations, you will need an appointment.

Please note that there is no Medicare rebate for Specialist appointments without a referral from your GP.

It is illegal to backdate referrals. 

IFMC can assist you in organising a medically trained interpreter for your consultation. 

Family members may not be the most appropriate interpreters as they may not be always available or understand medical terminology. 

Some IFMC doctors speak a language other than English (see Our Team).

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