Schedule of Fees: OBSTETRICS 1st March 2012.

This document describes – in detail – the fees that I charge for your care throughout your pregnancy, for your birth and for your postnatal care.

PLEASE NOTE:

  • This document describes – in detail – the fees that I charge for your care throughout your pregnancy. This does not include or cover fees that other doctors or hospitals and other providers will charge you.
  • My overall fees are around $7,500 per pregnancy (depending upon the number of visits and the complexity of your pregnancy and / or birth) and your total out of pocket expense will be around $5,700. This comparatively high out of pocket expense reflects the low value the current federal government and health funds place on obstetric services.
  • While it is impossible to provide care for an entire pregnancy without out of pocket expenses I lessen these expenses by “No Gap” billing the delivery fee aspect of your care. This in turn means that the “Planning and Management” fee is comparatively large. This approach maximises the Health Fund contribution to your expenses and minimises the out of pocket component to your fees as best I can.
  • Once you have paid your Planning and Management Fee the only bills you will receive from me will be those for your antenatal visits. This is regardless of the complexity of your pregnancy or birth.

Your Planning and Management fee:

  • Includes your contribution to my medical professional indemnity insurance (approximately $100,000 per annum – and I am a good doctor having had no claims made against me),
  • Acts as a retainer acknowledging the provision of 24 hour cellphone based specialist availability,
  • Covers visits by me if you attend or are admitted to hospital prior to giving birth,
  • Covers all of your postnatal visits,
  • Supports most midwifery services at my office such that visits with Amanda and Caroline are not charged (Lactation Consultant services are billed separately), and
  • Supports some birthing classes such as hospital tours and caesarean / epidural classes (although our main birthing classes are billed separately)
  • Medicare will pay rebates on fees charged while you are not in hospital (i.e. those relating to your visits in my office and the overall management of your pregnancy) and your health fund covers your in – hospital treatment (usually the birth itself).
  • My fee structure reflects my wish to be able to provide you with a dedicated personal high quality service.
  • You can claim up to 20% of your out of pocket medical expenses as a tax deduction. You will find more information about this deduction in the info section of my website.
  • Because midwifery visits are not charged at my office you can lessen your expenses by having some of your visits with Amanda or Caroline.
  • As a general rule your total out of pocket expenses for the whole pregnancy can be slightly lower if you have your baby at The Royal Hospital for Women rather than Prince of Wales Private Hospital.
  • This fee schedule presupposes that you are an Australian resident with a Medicare card and a Private Health Fund with which you are covered for obstetrics. If you do not have one of these components please contact my manager for a quote for your fees.

FEE SCHEDULE (OBSTETRICS):

A “complicated pregnancy” is broadly defined, but includes pregnancies complicated by:

  • Multiple pregnancy,
  • Premature birth,
  • Significant diabetes,
  • Significant high blood pressure,
  • Other medical conditions and complications,
  • Placenta praevia,
  • Fetal distress and
  • Prolonged labour.

However the manner in which I bill means that you pay me no more for a complicated labour and / or delivery (including a caesarean) than a straightforward birth (your health fund pays me a little more for such births).

My fees do NOT include the following costs (and the figures mentioned below are VERY rough estimates):

  • Ultrasound scans performed by specialised ultrasound services (you will require at least two such ultrasound scans per pregnancy).
  • Laboratory tests. Tests conducted on the Randwick hospital campus at the SEALS laboratory are bulk billed and you may wish to have your bloods performed there.
  • Hospital accommodation (although this should be covered by your Health Fund).
  • Anaesthetists’ fees. Depending upon the situation – and the time of day or night – anesthetists’ fees can range from approximately $1,500 for a straightforward epidural insertion to over $3,000 for involvement in complicated labours that involve epidurals then caesarean sections or complications after the birth. Your Health Fund will refund approximately half of these fees.
  • Surgical assistants fees for caesarean births (Prince of Wales Private only – approx $700, with approx $200 from your fund).
  • Private Paediatric services.
  • The providers of the above services (a – f) will bill you separately. Their costs are beyond my control and are additional to the fees that I charge.

GYNAECOLOGY

Schedule of Fees:  GYNAECOLOGY 1st November 2009 My gynaecology fees are based on those recommended by the Australian Medical Association (AMA). Unfortunately gap fees exist because the federal government’s official schedule of fees is inadequate with respect to the true costs of providing your care. In part the previous government addressed this by providing some support for our indemnity insurance premiums and through the Medicare safety net.

All of the above fees are associated with Medicare Item numbers and accordingly attract Medicare and / or insurance rebates. Medicare alone rebates for the out of hospital expenses while your fund rebates for your in hospital treatment. These fees do not include the following costs: Ultrasound scans performed by specialised ultrasound services

  1. Laboratory tests, particularly THINPREP smears
  2. Hospital accommodation
  3. Anaesthetists fees

The providers of the above services will bill you separately. Their costs are beyond my control and are additional to the fees that I charge.