Drummond Dermatology sets fees at a level which reflects the expertise and experience of a specialist dermatologist, as well as the cost of running a private medical practice.

The fee for consultation reflects the complexity and number of issues. Consideration is given to the duration of the appointment, although this is not the primary factor.

Fees also take into account time spent on non-face-to-face activities related to patient care (such as phone calls and administrative tasks, undertaken by the doctor and practice staff).

There are a range of fees depending on whether you are a new or returning patient. If you have not been seen for more than 12 months you are a “new” patient for Medicare purposes, with some exceptions.

New patients are provided with an estimate of the cost of an initial consultation fee. This fee may be higher for extended consultations, for complex issues and where multiple problems are discussed.

Fees may be reduced on a discretionary basis for those on FULL old age and disability pensions. We do not routinely offer reduced fees to Health Care card holders.

This is a private practice. We do not “bulk-bill”.

Online claiming of Medicare rebates may be possible but this is offered for convenience and is not a primary responsibility of this practice. Medicare rebates can be claimed through your mygov account. Please contact Medicare for further information about this.

Accounts must be settled on the day of your consultation. Payments are accepted by credit and debit cards (Mastercard or Visa). We do not accept American Express or Diners Club cards. Personal cheques are not accepted.

Cash payments are discouraged.

For telehealth consultations prepayment is required before the consultation commences.

A $25 account fee will be added to your invoice if, due to exceptional circumstances, you do not settle on the day of consultation.

If payment is not received after 14 days, a late fee of 15% will be added to the invoice.

Debt recovery will be instituted if the account is not settled after 30 days.

The practice does not charge a fee for consultations and procedures to eligible DVA cardholders. However, in some circumstances a fee may be charged for consumable items.

If a third party (Workers’ compensation, Medicolegal and Defence) is responsible for payment of the account the practice must be advised prior to confirming the appointment, with appropriate documentation submitted prior to confirmation of the appointment.

If this is not advised prior to the appointment any fees will be payable by the patient at the time of consultation, or the appointment will be rescheduled.

We do not accept third party payments in other situations (such as overseas medical insurance policies). Payment must be made by the patient on the day of consultation.

Further services or procedures will attract additional fees (including biopsies, excisions, cryotherapy and curettage).

Some services do not attract a Medicare rebate. These include fees for items and services including repeat or lost prescriptions and request forms, certain consumable items and medical treatments provided by the practice.

In the interest of informed financial consent, please ask for a quotation or estimate before you agree to a procedure or extra service. Sometimes it is not possible to provide you with the exact fee. Medicare item numbers depend on the diagnosis which may not be known at the time of consultation.

Review appointment fees depend more on the complexity of the skin problem, rather than duration of the appointment.

The fee for routine full skin checks is applicable whether or not you have an indefinite referral for that condition.

 A script fee is also charged for conditions where time is spent after the consultation submitting forms for approval to Medicare.

A fee may be charged for repeat or lost prescriptions and pathology request forms.

Repeat prescriptions without a consultation will only be issued if you have been seen in the practice within the last 12 months, and only if clinically appropriate. It may be medically necessary to review you either in person or by telehealth consultation. A script fee is usually charged.

If pathology is required, you may receive a separate account from the pathology provider. Although most pathology services are bulk billed, there may be fees for some services. If this is the case, the pathology provider will issue a separate account, and queries about this should be issued be directed to the provider. Some tests do not attract a Medicare rebate.

If fees are not paid in a timely manner (on the day of consultation, or soon thereafter for some procedures), no further appointments can be made until account is settled.

An account fee may be charged if payment is not made on the day of consultation or procedure.

If accounts are overdue by more than 30 days formal debt recovery measures will be instituted.

Appointments are confirmed by SMS or phone 2-3 days before the appointment. If you fail to attend a fee may be added to your account, unless there are extenuating circumstances.

If you cancel an appointment without reasonable notice (less than 24 hours) on more than one occasion you will be required to prepay if another appointment is booked.

Private health insurance does not cover any appointments or procedures.

If you have any queries about fees please ask the practice staff for further information.

If you would prefer not to pay private consulting and treatment fees, please let your referring doctor know as they have the option of referring you to a public hospital dermatology clinic.

Dr Drummond conducts public outpatients clinics at Canberra Hospital for paediatric and vulval patients.

If you wish to see Dr Drummond at the hospital your referral should be sent directly to Central Outpatients for paediatric patients:
ACTHealthCentralOutpatient-Referrals@act.gov.au

For appointments at the vulval dermatology clinic at Canberra Sexual Health Centre please phone 02 51242184 to make an appointment to see Dr Drummond.

Dr Drummond does not directly manage the bookings for the Outpatients clinics. Enquiries about appointment dates should be directed to the hospital.

Patients who have chosen to be cared for through the Canberra Hospital Outpatient clinics, must contact the dermatology team via the Hospital switchboard or by email regarding any concerns, advice or prescriptions.

A person who is seen at public outpatients clinics at Canberra Hospital is legally a patient of the hospital, and not a private patient. Dr Drummond does not keep the medical records of hospital patients at her private practice, and cannot answer queries or personally provide advice, prescriptions or pathology request forms.