How to get a Medical Referral from a GP or a Specialist to See Dr Doyle
To undergo plastic surgery at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery, you will need to get an itemised medical referral from either a General Practitioner or Specialist.
Having a referral allows you to access Medicare rebates for your consultation, given that your procedure is Medical in nature. You will receive approximately $84 back from your consultation fee. When you make your appointment with Dr Doyle, please send your valid referral to reception@goldcoastplasticsurgery.com.au or bring it to your appointment for scanning.
Please note, that it is now essential to have a referral before your initial consultation with Dr Doyle, both for cosmetic and medically necessary procedures.
A referral from a GP is valid for 12 months and a referral from a Specialist is valid for 3 months.
If you have a valid medical referral and you are eligible for a Medicare item number (this means that your procedure is medically necessary), you may be able to claim assistance from your Insurer. This depends on your level of Private Hospital Insurance coverage, and assistance may be available to subsidise your Hospital Fee.
Here are some rules as to what makes a Valid Medical Referral to a Specialist.
You may choose to see your GP to get your referral or get a specialist medical referral online.
Dr Mark Doyle – Specialist Plastic Surgeon
Dr Doyle is a specialist plastic surgeon at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery. He specialises in Breast Lift surgery, complex implant removal procedures as well as post-pregnancy surgery and nose surgery.
He currently does not offer skin cancer surgery, post-cancer reconstruction or hand surgery, however, we can assist you in finding another reliable surgeon to refer to.
Benefits of Getting a Medical Referral
A medical referral is an important part of your surgery process. A medical referral:
- Allows your GP to keep your medical records in one place
- Informs your surgeon about your medical history
- Enables your surgeon to keep your GP updated
- Gives you access to potential rebates and possible private health Insurance subsidy for your medically necessary surgery.
- Gives you access to a Medicare rebate on your consultation fee if you have a medical referral. (Not for cosmetic surgery, only medically necessary surgery)
Information for a Medical Referral to a Specialist Plastic Surgeon
HELPFUL INFORMATION IN A PATIENT REFERRAL FOR COSMETIC PLASTIC SURGERY
The following items would be helpful in your medical referral to a specialist plastic surgeon.
Patient Demographic Information:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Next of kin
- Postal address
- Contact number(s)
- Email address
- Medicare number
- Referring GP details including provider number
- Usual GP (if different)
- Interpreter requirements (if req)
Patient Clinical Information:
- Reason for referral to a specialist
- Duration of symptoms
- Management to date and response to treatment
- Past medical history
- Current medications and medication history if relevant
- Functional status and capability
- Psychosocial history and any mental health issues
- Dietary status
- Family history
- Diagnostic tests completed and any results
Include Notes in Alignment with the MBS Eligibility Criteria
If you are being referred to Dr Doyle to treat a medical condition, it is helpful that your GP indicates your health condition in alignment with the Medicare criteria. You can find out details of each Medicare item number here:
This article outlines Medicare Item Numbers for the following procedures:
- Gynaecomastia (Male Breast Reduction)
- Breast Reduction
- Breast Implant Removal
- Breast Lift
- Body Lift
- Tummy Tuck (Abdominoplasty)
- Blepharoplasty (Eyelid Lift)
- Otoplasty
- Rhinoplasty
- Septoplasty
To find out more if you qualify for item number surgery – please contact our office via our website or call us on 07 5598 0988.
About Dr Mark Doyle FRACS (Plas) – Queensland Plastic Surgeon
Servicing patients in Gold Coast, Brisbane, Sunshine Coast, Cairns and New South Wales NSW – Northern Rivers, Byron Bay, Ballina, Lismore and more.
Dr Mark Doyle is a fully qualified Specialist Plastic Surgeon with over 30 years of experience performing breast, body, face and nose surgery. He has completed all required training and only carries out approved surgical practices. There are NO undertrained doctors or cosmetic doctors acting as surgeons at Gold Coast Plastic Surgery.
