- What is telehealth?
You might be wondering what telehealth is. Put simply, it enables healthcare professionals to provide video consultations via channels like Skype, Whatsapp, Zoom and Facetime as well as standard telephone consultations. We refer to these as virtual consultations.
The federal government has recently announced new funding for telehealth in an effort to help combat the spread of COVID-19.
- Is telehealth covered by Medicare?
Consultations for vulnerable patients or vulnerable health practitioners are now available to be bulk billed for the following modalities:
- GPs
- Specialists
- Consultant physicians
- Obstetricians
- Consultant psychiatrists
- Nurse practitioners
- Allied mental health workers
- Midwives
A comprehensive list is available on the government’s MBS online website.
- What if I need a physical examination?
Your healthcare professional may guide you through a self examination, or ask you to check if you notice anything abnormal. If you have a reliable thermometer or blood pressure gauge, it’s worth making sure these are on-hand in case they’re needed.
You’ll find that healthcare professionals offering telehealth services are really competent at virtual consultations.
- If I’m prescribed medication, how do I pick it up?
Your practitioner can send your prescription electronically to a pharmacy near you, if you don’t have a preference they can nominate one for you.
- What if the consultation is with someone other than my regular GP?
If you would like to ensure that details about your health consultation are shared with your regular GP, you can register for a My Health Record. This enables you to share information with the healthcare providers involved in your care, as you choose.
You’ll also be able to access records of any treatments prescribed. Visit the government’s My Health Record website for further information.
- Do other healthcare professionals offer telehealth?
Yes! You’ll find a wide range of healthcare professionals offering telehealth services, from psychologists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologist and personal trainers to dieticians, naturopaths and many more.
- How do I pay for telehealth services that are not covered by Medicare?
Please check when you make your appointment, some practitioners will send you an invoice, others offer convenient ways for you to pay over the phone, online.
- Do private health insurers cover telehealth consultations ?
To help stop the spread of COVID-19, private health insurers are making a range of consultations available for telehealth. Please check with your health insurer to see what they cover as this may differ from fund to fund.
