No, we do not offer bulk-billing. MIGYNAE operates as a full-service private practice clinic, staffed by highly skilled local clinical and administrative professionals. We pride ourselves on providing thorough and personalised care in a warm and welcoming environment. Our dedicated and compassionate team ensures every patient receives diligent attention and follow-through throughout their healthcare journey. As a private practice, there are out-of-pocket expenses associated with most consultations and procedures, which enable us to maintain the high standards of care and service we offer.
No, you do not need a GP referral to see a specialist in Australia. However, having a GP referral allows you to claim a Medicare rebate if you are entitled to Medicare benefits, reducing the out-of-pocket cost of your consultation. While the rebate may not cover the majority of your consultation fee, it is helpful for eligible patients.
We also view your GP as an integral part of your healthcare journey. A referral from your GP ensures that your medical history and any prior treatments are shared with us, which helps us provide more informed and coordinated care. We recommend speaking to your GP before considering an appointment with MIGYNAE to explore whether your concern can be effectively managed by your primary care provider or if specialist care is needed.
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 to entitle you to claim your Medicare rebate.
Patients who do not have a Medicare card, do not want to claim the Medicare rebate, or international patients do not require a referral to attend our practice and will be billed per our standard rates.
GP referrals are valid for 12-months and referrals from other Specialist are valid for 3-months.
The referral starts from the date the specialist first meets the patient, not the date issued.
Yes, you can. You can use a referral that is made out to a different specialist of the same speciality/vocation (eg: another obstetrician and gynaecologist or fertility specialist). See here for more information: healthdirect and Services Australia and NIB.
In clinic
Private health insurance does not cover an outpatient or clinic consultation, unless you are an overseas visitor with appropriate international travel insurance. For these patients, once full payment is made on the day of the consultation, you are given a receipt to claim directly from your insurer.
Surgery
No, you are not required to have private health insurance to be treated in a private hospital. A ‘self-funded’ patient is someone who does not have private health insurance but covers the full cost of their medical treatment upfront. This includes the fees for the specialist, anaesthetist, surgical assistant, and hospital. The hospital fee typically represents the largest portion of the overall cost.
Public Hospitals
If you are a Medicare card holder, treatment in a public hospital is provided without any direct fees. However, being referred to a public hospital often involves longer waiting times. You may need to undergo additional assessments, and it is the hospital’s decision whether to accept your referral for their outpatient clinics or for surgery. Additionally, you typically cannot choose which public hospital you are referred to, nor can you select your doctors or specialists, as care is allocated based on availability and clinical need.
Yes, but there are limitations for certain telehealth consultations.
Medicare offers rebates for initial consultations conducted via video, but it does not provide rebates for initial consultations conducted over the phone. For follow-up telehealth consultations, Medicare rebates are available for both video and phone consultations if you are eligible.
For more information about telehealth consultations, please refer to our Clinic Info – Telehealth Consults.
A new patient appointment is scheduled for 30 mins, and a review appointment is scheduled for 15 mins.
Our clinicians triage your referrals and documents, and you are usually offered an appointment within 24-72 hours. Don’t hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you believe your situation is urgent and you haven’t heard from us.
Not necessarily. In fact, most patients, including adolescents, don’t require an examination during their appointment. With advancements in imaging, particularly ultrasound (often transvaginal for those who are sexually active), many conditions can be effectively evaluated through investigations arranged by your GP before your appointment.
For adolescents or patients who may feel anxious about an examination, please know that it will only be suggested if absolutely necessary to understand your symptoms or guide your care. Your doctor will always explain the process, answer any questions, and ensure you feel completely comfortable and supported.
Some patients, including adolescents, may feel they want or need an examination for peace of mind. If this is the case, let your doctor know during your consultation, and they will address your concerns with sensitivity and care.
Yes
Yes, although bear in mind that the triaging doctor will schedule you with the most appropriate clinician for your condition and within the most appropriate time frame. You can certainly always wait to see your chosen clinician.
No. Any referral that comes to MIGYNAE can be used for any of our Gynaecologists.
Yes. MIGYNAE always keeps urgent appointments for urgent conditions.
No, we will always do our best to fit you in once you are a patient of our practice. Remember that a new problem requires a new referral or that your referral may have expired.
Yes, you are welcome to request copies of any results or letters prepared by a MIGYNAE clinician. You may just need to sign an authorisation/consent form.
However, for letters or results ordered or written by clinicians outside of MIGYNAE, you will need to contact their office directly to obtain those documents.
Same-day insertion of an IUD, including Mirena or Kyleena, may be possible but depends on several factors:
If this is your first IUD or there are any concerns, a consultation may be needed prior to scheduling the procedure. Please contact our office, and we can guide you through the process.
You can request a new one be written by your doctor but it won’t be immediate as it requires the doctor to write it when they are onsite. There is a cost for this request.
Not typically. Your gynaecologist will provide your GP with a detailed letter outlining the medication they’ve prescribed, including the name and dosage. Your GP is best placed to provide ongoing repeats, as they manage your overall health and medications.
We encourage you to see your GP for repeat prescriptions, as they can ensure your medications are coordinated with your broader health care needs. If there are any changes to your treatment or ongoing issues, your GP can also collaborate with us to ensure the best outcomes.
This rebate alters every year but is currently sitting at approximately $80 for a first appointment and approximately $40 for a review appointment. If you have reached your Medicare Safety Net, you will receive more.
No, Private Health insurance can only be applied to situations where you are an inpatient in hospital. There may be exceptions for patients with overseas/international health insurance.
No, once you are in the hands of the Public Health Service, they become the responsible body. In effect, your welfare has been transferred from MIGYNAE to the hospital you are referred to.
You will have been provided with information sheets describing what to look out for post procedure. If in doubt, you can ring MIGYNAE on 9500 1828 and select option 4 for the clinical liason.
Only one to two days prior. You are given an approximate arrival time at the time of booking but an exact time is not issued until closer to the surgery date due to potential changes of both patient details and list orders.
This is in the hands of the individual hospital and will also depend on your recovery time. It is however, usually about 4 hours post surgery.
No, MIGYNAE forwards a receipt to you after the surgery when the account is paid in full as well as forms to enable your claiming. The patient then makes the claim to their own Private Health Insurance and Medicare.
Yes, generally you will have an amount to pay your surgeon over and above what your Private Health insurer will pay. This is usually the case with the anaesthetist as well. Many people have an excess on their hospital policy per annum so this might apply to you. Also be aware that in a Private Hospital, radiology and pathology are also privately billed and may or may not be covered by your insurer.
No, not unless you require a quotation prior to committing to surgery. Otherwise, the anaesthetist’s office will contact you to closer to the surgery date to answer any of your questions and to take a deposit for the surgery.
A qualified doctor or credentialled nurse assistant is required at surgical operations. At MIGYNAE, we currently have Obstetric & Gynaecology registrars or specialists, Reproductive Medicine (CREI) trainees or trainees of the Australasian Gynaecological Endoscopy Society (AGES) Advanced Training Program assisting with your operation and after care. Fees for these roles at surgery are part of your informed financial consent (IFC).
Yes. Please speak to your surgeon’s PA to arrange another time. Note that notice of cancellations less than 2 weeks prior to the scheduled date incur administration fees.
We strongly advise you to ring your Private Health insurer once you have received the surgery quotation containing the item numbers to be performed. Some insurance policies only cover certain item numbers and many have inclusions and exclusions that you will want to familiarise yourself with in order to fully understand your out of pocket cost. The link below explains the Private health insurance waiting period rules by the Ombudsman’s department.
https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/35612/Waiting-periods-DL-Fyler-Web.pdf
We are a general gynaecology clinic based in Melbourne, dedicated to the latest Minimally Invasive (MI) gynaecological diagnostic and surgical techniques. We are leaders is laparoscopic and cutting-edge robotic “keyhole” surgery.
If you have a question about a condition or treatment, or would like to book an appointment, please get in touch and one of our friendly team members will happily assist you.
Our practice will be closed for the holiday season from 25th December 2024 and reopen on Tuesday 7th January 2025 @ 9.00am.
During this period, emails and incoming referrals will not be answered or monitored. All correspondence will be processed upon our return on 7th January 2025.
In case of an emergency, please visit your nearest Emergency Department or call 000 for immediate assistance.
If you have had surgery within the last three weeks, and require urgent medical attention over the holiday closure period, please call the paging service on 9387-1000 to contact your surgeon or attend the nearest Emergency Department.
On behalf of the entire team at MIGYNAE, we wish you a happy, safe holiday season and a prosperous NEW YEAR.
We look forward to welcoming you back in 2025!
