Billing Policy

Clinpath Laboratories is a private pathology laboratory. The fees for pathology testing are separate from the fees charged by other treating doctors. 

Bulk-billing policy

If you fall into one of the following categories, your services will be bulk-billed.
(Medicare rebateable items only)

• Holders of a current Health Care Card

• Holders of a current Pensioner Card

• Holders of a current Veterans Affairs Card

• Nursing home patients

• Patients over 65 years of age

• Patients under 17 years of age

The following billing policy applies only to patients who are eligible for a Medicare rebate and for tests listed in the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

Your Medicare rebate is the subsidy provided by the Australian government for tests that are included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. If any of your tests are not covered in this Schedule you will not receive a rebate. You will need to pay for these tests in full. For more information about personal and test eligibility visit the Medicare Australia website http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/ or contact Medicare on 132 011.  

Outpatient (Community Based) Pathology Services

Out-of-pocket expenses for Medicare-eligible outpatient pathology tests

Inpatient (Hospital) Pathology Services

Inpatient pathology services refer to tests performed on:

• A private patient in a private hospital or approved day hospital facility, or
• A private patient in a recognised (public) hospital  

1. Inpatients who have eligible cover with a private health insurer.
 

Clinpath laboratories has a NO GAP agreement for hospital inpatients with certain health insurance funds.

If you have insurance cover with a private health fund that has a "No Gap" agreement with Clinpath, your account will be billed directly to Medicare Australia and your private health insurer for full payment. You will not incur any additional out-of-pocket expenses. Clinpath has "No Gap" agreements with the following health funds:

Any tests that are not covered under the Medicare Benefits Schedule will incur an additional fee that may not be covered by your private health insurance.  These tests must be paid for in full, and are not eligible for a Medicare rebate.  For more information about Medicare rebates, visit the Medicare Australia website www.medicareaustralia.gov.au.  Further information can also be provided by your private health insurer.

If you have eligible cover with a private health fund that does not have a "no gap" agreement with Clinpath, you will receive an account for your pathology tests.  You will be eligible for your Medicare rebate, and you can then present the paid account to your private health fund for a further rebate.  Any out-of-pocket fee will be capped to a maximum of $320 per admission.

2. Inpatients without eligible private health insurance.
 
If you do not have eligible private health insurance you will receive an account from Clinpath Laboratories.
Your pathology tests will be charged a maximum in accordance with the Australian Medical Association (AMA) schedule of fees. When the account is paid you can present the receipt to Medicare Australia to claim the rebate which will amount to 75% of the Medicare Schedule fee. The difference between our fee and the rebate is your out-of-pocket expense.


Out-of-Pocket Expenses for Medicare-eligible inpatient pathology tests.

Out-of-pocket expenses are incurred when the private account from Clinpath Laboratories exceeds the sum of rebates payable by Medicare Australia and/or your private health insurance fund. When we issue a private account we limit our fees so that your out-of-pocket expenses are kept to a minimum

Paying your Account

Australia Post Office. The receipt you receive can be used to claim your Medicare rebate.
 
BPay Internet Banking. The reference number is unique; you will need to change this number for each new account. Your receipt will be mailed to you.
 
Phone - Credit Card 1300 138 202 -  24 hours, 7 days a week. Your receipt will be mailed to you.

You may pay by cheque or credit card, at any of our collection rooms. Please refer to our web site for a convenient collection centre .  

Claiming your Rebate

When the account is paid, you can submit the receipt to Medicare to claim your rebate. Your Medicare rebate is the subsidy provided by the Australian government for services that are included in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. If any of your tests are not covered in this Schedule, you will not receive a rebate. You will need to pay for these tests in full. 


For more information about personal and test eligibility, visit the Medicare Australia website http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/ or contact Medicare on 132 011.

Assistance

If you need assistance, please contact our Accounts department on (08) 8366 2066 between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday.