FAQs
Do you offer Bulk Billing?
As a rule, no. However, we may choose to bulk-bill at our discretion.
We operate a full-service private practice clinic with leading local clinical and administrative staff, along with the latest state-of-the-art diagnostic and therapeutic clinical technology, which enables us to offer patients a truly world-class clinical experience. This service is not possible to run on a bulk billing model. Therefore, there are reasonable out-of-pocket expenses associated with most consultations and procedures.
Do I need a GP referral?
No, you do not need a GP referral to see a specialist in Australia however, having a GP referral allows you to receive the Medicare rebate (ie: recoup some of your consultation fee), and allows your GP to send a referral letter with your full medical history detailed, which is essential for your doctor to review. We strongly recommend speaking to your GP prior to seeing us.
Do I receive the Medicare rebate?
If you are a Medicare card holder and want to claim the Medicare rebate, you will require a valid referral from either a GP or another Specialist, which will enable you to claim the Medicare rebate.
What if I don’t have a Medicare card / I am an international patient?
Patients who do not have a Medicare card (ie: international patients), or patients who do not want to claim the Medicare rebate, do not require a referral to attend our practice and will be billed as per our standard rates.
How long is a referral valid for?
GP referrals are valid for 12-months from their issue date, and referrals from other Specialists are valid for 3-months from their issue date.
Can I use a referral made out to a different specialist to attend your clinic?
Yes, you can. You can use a referral that is made out to a different specialist of the same speciality/vocation (eg: another orthopaedic surgeon).
Do I require Private Health Insurance to be a patient?
No, you do not necessarily need to have private health insurance to be a patient in a private hospital. A ‘self-funded’ patient is someone who doesn’t have Private Health Insurance, but opts to pay directly for their medical treatment upfront rather than joining the public wait list.
In-Clinic Consultation Fees
Private health insurance does not cover what is done in the rooms (unless you are an in-patient of the hospital, or an overseas visitor with international travel insurance). If you are an international visitor with the necessary insurance, full payment is required at the time of the consultation and you will then be provided with a receipt to claim directly from your provider.
Surgical Fees
We will send you an invoice prior to surgery, which is Dr Di Nallo’s fees. The anaesthetist’s fee and your surgical assistant’s fee will be sent to you separately by the health professionals involved in your care.
In addition to this, you may have a hospital excess fee. Please contact your health insurance provider to learn if your policy fully covers your surgery.
If you are a self-funded patient, there will be a hospital fee, which includes theatre fees, accommodation and food costs, medications, and prostheses.
Public Hospitals
If you are a Medicare card holder and you are treated as a public patient in a public hospital, there will be no fees associated with your surgery.
Do you offer telehealth consultations?
Dr Di Nallo generally does not offer telehealth appointments to patients, given the physical examination requirements needed during an orthopaedic consultation.
In certain circumstances, he will offer telehealth follow-up appointments to patients that live in rural and remote areas.
