Can I get a Telehealth appointment?

Yes, telehealth appointments are available, with the same charge as a face to face appointment.

Do I need a referral to make an appointment?

Effectively yes - you need a referral from a medical practitioner (e.g. your GP) if you wish to claim a Medicare rebate, as Medicare will not pay these rebates without a valid referral. The referral needs to indicate the problem you are being referred for. You can attend appointments without a referral but may not get any money refunded from Medicare.

Who is eligible for the Concession fee?

Health-care card holders, pensioners and full-time tertiary students.

Why is there no bulk-billing?

The patients listed above are offered concession rates, but they are still higher than the Medicare rebate, so bulk billing is not used. Bulk-billing is very rare in the specialty of Sport & Exercise medicine. Whilst our rebates as of July 2025 are now equivalent to similar specialist physicians, our rebates were cut between the years of 2010 and 2025, meaning that almost all SEM physicians have the attitude of setting a private fee and letting the patient claim back eligible rebates, rather than ever accepting government fees (as we know from experience that Medicare has previously cut our rebates).

If you feel that this is an important issue and would like to complain to government bodies about this discrepancy, by all means write to the Federal Health Minister and ask why your Medicare rebate is lower just because you are trying to increase the amount you exercise.

Does my private health insurance cover any of these fees?

No. The Federal government has determined that it is illegal for private health insurance to cover doctors’ fees outside of hospitals.

Are the gaps eligible for the Medicare Safety Net?

Yes. If you anticipate that you or your family may have gaps totalling more than several hundred dollars per year, please save the receipts as you may be able to claim some of these under the Safety Net Scheme. For more info, visit Medicare Australia's page on the Medicare Safety Net.

Can I send information through electronically prior to my appointment?

Yes. You can fax via 02 9351 8118, but preferably email to info@thesportsclinic.com.au

What time will be given for my consultation?

Times vary but they are generous (and in fact for the time allocated, the consultation fees are quite low compared to other specialists). Generally, for an initial consultation you will be given a 40-45 minute appointment and for a review consultation you will be given a 30-40 minute appointment.

Will I need to organise follow-up treatment?

Please book a review appointment if you are awaiting the results of tests or scans or you need further treatment. If tests are ordered at a consultation and the results are sent to the practice, the doctor will call if the results are quite abnormal or unexpected. If the results are normal or the outcome of the test does not require urgent follow-up, the doctor will wait until your review appointment before discussing them. Follow-up communication of a very straightforward nature (e.g. answering a single question or passing on scan results) can be done over the phone without charge. Because time at paid appointments is prioritised, lengthy phone calls or reply to detailed emails is not encouraged, so if you have anything other than a simple follow-up question you need to organise a review appointment. Paid Telehealth appointments can be organised at the usual charges.

Will I need to pay anything extra for injections?

There is an extra charge for injections, but when done under ultrasound with a doctor’s referral asking for an ultrasound-guided injection, there will be an additional Medicare rebate which covers this extra cost. The cost of substances to be injected will be included in the injection fee on most occasions (cortisone, platelet rich plasma). Hyaluronan gel injections need to be supplied by the patient as these are quite expensive.

When do I need to pay?

Fees are payable immediately following the consultation. We accept cash, EFTPOS and Visa/Mastercard.