Getting a referral for PS in Australia

[Goannabanda]

Someone (surgeon? GP? friend? forum post?) told me that when the time comes for plastic surgery, to ask your GP or band surgeon for a referral to a RECONSTRUCTIVE and PLASTIC surgery.

Apparently the Medicare item numbers are different for reconstructive and plastic surgery, but the surgeon and procedures are the same as if you had a referral for plastic surgery, or sought plastic surgery on your own.

However it affects how much your out of pocket expenses will be.

If you have a referral that covers reconstructive surgery, you can have most of the work billed as such, and your out of pocket expenses will be much less.

I haven't researched the truth in this, but it's worth discussing with your GP / surgeon anyway. Post your experiences and updates here so we can all be informed.
As always, hope this helps!

[Chickie]

That would have been me who posted all that.

Yep. You do need a referral from your GP for a reconstructive surgery.

I was billed $2700 for the surgeon, and assistant. The Anesthetist was $890.00, and the hospital was covered by my fund.

I got back $1275 from Medicare and my health fund on the surgeon and assistant, and all of the Anesthetist back. So my total out of pocket is $1425. Not bad. Mind you, I had no lipo, nor did I have my port moved, or a low profile port installed (apparently my port was in a "good" place, and wouldn't show much, if at all, and they were right)

From seeing others PS results, the only thing that differed with my surgery was the lipo, and the cost ($1425 Vs $20,000 :wacko: ) And to be honest, in the end I don't think I needed the lipo, or the $20,000 bill!

[Goannabanda]

Thanks Chickie - I thought it was terrific information that should be included on our new boards.
Cheers!