For almost 2 years, we have been fortunate to have had the availability of telehealth consultations to help get us through the hurdles that the COVID-19 Pandemic has thrown at us. However, to be able to use this service and receive a medicare rebate you must have attended our practice in the last 12 months. This is not our rule, but a decision made by medicare to ensure patients that utilise the telehealth service has an existing relationship with their GP practice. If it is greater than 12 month (which we are finding is becoming more frequently the case), you will be required to attend for a face to face appointment, unless of course you have covid or cold and flu like symptoms. If you are unsure when your last face to face appointment was (lets face it, the last 12 months have been a blur!) please check with our reception staff.

Here is a quick guide on how best to utilise the telehealth service at YFD…..

• Telephone consultations are preferred for shorter appointments such as scripts, giving of results, or if you cannot attend the practice in person due to cold and flu like symptoms or are in isolation. Medicare does not allow for GP mental health plan referrals or GP management plans to be done via telephone.
• Video consultations are required for longer consults when managing multiple medical problems, GP management plans and GP mental health plans. Presently our practice is using a service called ‘’GP Consults’’ which is easy to use if you have a smart phone/ipad or computer. When your doctor is ready to begin the consultation you will receive a text message and then just follow the prompts.
• Telephone appointments with a medicare rebate are only available to existing patients that have attended our practice for a face to face appointment in the last 12 months. If you are unable to attend face to face there is an option of a private fee without a medicare rebate.
• The existing relationship requirement does not apply to
  • children under the age of 12 months
  • people who are homeless
  • patients receiving an urgent after-hours service
  • patients isolating due to COVID infection or are in isolation.
  • Patients requiring sexual or reproductive health consltiations, pregnancy counselling services, mental health services and nicotine and smoking cessation counselling.
• If you are unsure what type of appointment is right for you please talk to our friendly reception staff.