Do I need a referral to see Dr Armenores?
It is not a requirement to have a referral for a consultation. However, almost all patients are referred by their GP or another specialist in order to be eligible for a Medicare rebate for part of the cost of the consultation. Referrals from GPs are typically valid for 12 months, but some patients may obtain an indefinite referral. A referral from another specialist will usually last 3 months.
What are Dr Armenores' fees?
The following is offered as a guide but for more specific information please call the reception staff on 8127 4159. Medicare rebates do fluctuate but the values are offered as a guide.
Initial consult full fee - $180 (Medicare rebate $81.30)
Initial consult aged pension - $120 (Medicare rebate $81.30)
Follow-up consult full fee - $120 (Medicare rebate $40.85)
Follow-up consult aged pension - $100 (Medicare rebate $40.85)
Rapid review consult (all patients) - $120 (this list is only for checking lesions possibly representing skin cancer, Medicare rebate $81.30 with a new referral, or $40.85 if follow-up)
These fees cover the cost of the consultation only and if additional procedures are performed, these come with additional expense on the day. However, most of these procedures are billed at the same rate as Medicare rebates, so your gap stays the same. For example:
Cryotherapy to 10 sunspots - $37.00 (Medicare rebate $37.00)
Biopsy - $48.90 (Medicare rebate $48.90)
So, if you attended for an initial consult and you have a suspicious spot that is biopsied, you will be billed $180 + $48.90, and your gap after Medicare rebates remains the same).
DVA Gold Card and DVA White Card (when covered for skin issues) never pay any out of pocket expenses.
Phototherapy patients are always bulk billed throughout their treatment course but these patients do need to protect their eyes from the UV rays with goggles that attract a one off fee of $10.
Fees of laser treatments are highly variable between patients, but in general:
Full face treatments for redness - $370
Full face treatments for pigmentation - $370
Superficial laser resurfacing full face - $600
The more complex laser (such as for acne scarring) procedures are quoted on a case by case basis.
Patients without private hospital cover who have surgery at Hove Day Surgery will be quoted prior as the fee is based on complexity and instrumentation used.
For patients with private hospital cover, most surgical and laser procedures are covered by your fund when performed at Hove Day Surgery - Dr Armenores does not charge a gap to perform surgery on privately insured patients. If an anaesthetist is involved, they may choose to charge a gap which is beyond the control of Dr Armenores.