HINT: A full list of doctors is available in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory, in the section titled Doctors - Medical Practitioners. Types of Medical Practices: Bulk Billing - The practice charges the Government for providing a medical service so the client does not need to pay anything. Bulk Billing for some client groups - The practice charges the Government for the medical service for some client groups (eg aged, children) but clients who do not fall within those groups are charged for a service, and the client will need to claim a refund from Medicare. No Bulk Billing - The practice charges every client for a service and the client will need to claim a refund from Medicare. Temporary residents, regardless of medical practice type they access, will be charged for the medical service they receive, and whilst they will not be able to claim a refund from Medicare, they may be able to do so from their private health insurance provider. Specialist Medical Practitioners To access a Specialist Medical Practitioner, you will need to obtain a referral letter from your doctor before you can make an appointment. Other Health Services Generally appointments with other health services (dentists, optometrists, physiotherapists etc) are not covered by Medicare. However some services may be wholly or partly covered by private health insurance. There is no rule governing how much health services can charge you for a service, so you should always ask what the cost will be when making an appointment. You can also check with your private health insurance provider what if any costs of the service will be covered by your health fund, and if the health fund has a preferred supplier. Using a preferred supplier generally results in you receiving a greater refund from your private health insurance. Pharmacies (Chemists) Chemists are located throughout the Gladstone Region. Whilst Chemists can supply a range of over the counter medications, many you cannot access without a prescription from your doctor. Prices vary from chemist to chemist and if you have prescriptions that need to be filled regularly it may be worth your while finding the chemist that can supply your medication at the cheapest price. Another way to decrease the cost of medications is by choosing to use generic rather than brand name drugs. Generic drugs are generally less expensive than brand name drugs although they are almost chemically identical, and meet Australian standards for safety and effectiveness. You can ask your doctor or your pharmacist if there is a generic drug you can use as an alternative to a brand name. Gladstone Regional Council Community Advisory Service
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