Frequently Asked Questions
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Do we Bulk Bill?
We are a private billing practice, consultation fees are required to be paid at the end of your consultation. We only offer bulking to children 6 years and under that has a valid medicare card and Vetrans.
Does the practice have a policy for follow up of test results?
Each doctor has a preferred way of following up results with their patients. At the time of ordering the tests, please check this with your doctor before you leave your consultation. Our ‘Follow Up’ system involves regular review of your results and correspondence, however following up on your tests and results, by way of making a “follow up appointment” is highly encouraged.
How do I get my results?
You may book a Telehealth or face-to-face appointment for results.
How do I get a copy of my results?
Please check your My Health Record to receive a copy of your results. All results will be uploaded a week after tests are
completed. Our team will direct all callers asking for results to access their My Health Record. Once results come back, our GPs action them depending on whether or not they are clinically significant. For results requiring a non-urgent follow up appointment you will be contacted either by SMS, or by way of a letter posted to your address on record.
As such, we will attempt to contact you via your provided contact information (including your next of kin and/or emergency contacts) through either mode of communication provided. We will make 3 attempts, followed by a formal letter sent to your listed residential address. It is your responsibility to ensure changes to your contact details are appropriately communicated and up to date with the practice.
If your doctor actions a result as urgent, one of our nursing team will ring you.
Can I see any doctor for follow up of my test results? We recommend follow up appointments be with the doctor who has ordered the tests, as this doctor knows what prompted testing however, we know that appointment availability can be limited at times and life is busy, so all the doctors within our practice are able to access your results.
Will I be charged for follow up of test results?
Your doctor is aware of the cost of healthcare and as such, many doctors have special arrangements for follow up of results that require discussion but do not require any further significant action. For follow up appointments that require a standard consultation, further testing or referrals, or where other issues are raised, standard fees will usually apply.
I have a pathology request form, when are they open?
Douglass Hanly Moir is open Monday to Friday 8:00 am-1:00 pm
Does our doctors do home visits or nursing home visits?
The doctors at Wahroonga Family Medical Practice do not do home or Nursing home Visit’s.
Why are some of the doctors not accepting new patients?
GPs often close their books to new patients when they’ve reached a tipping point—where taking on more would compromise the care they can provide to existing patients. It’s not a decision made lightly.
We have just moved from overseas and need our kids immunisation record updated and catch up immunisation, is this bulk billed?
You will need to book in to speak with one of the Doctors. The doctor will work with the practice nurse to work out the childhood immunisation and if any catch -up immunisations are required. As we are a private billing practice consultation fees apply.
Should the nurse be required to update the Australian Immunisation Record with overseas immunisation given an out of pocket cost of $120 per child applies however, this is capped for a family of 4 at $300.
Why am I required to put in my credit/Mastercard details to secure my telephone appointment with the doctor?
Many practices now ask for credit or debit card details—like a Mastercard—when booking a telephone or telehealth appointment to streamline payments and reduce no-shows. Here’s why:
Pre-authorisation, not pre-payment: Your card is held securely (often via platforms like HotDoc), but not charged until after the appointment. If the doctor bulk bills or waives the fee, no funds are taken.
Minimising missed appointments: Requiring card details helps ensure patients follow through with bookings, which protects valuable clinical time.
Efficient billing: Especially for privately billed services, this allows practices to process payments automatically after the consult, saving admin time and reducing delays.
Security and compliance: Reputable platforms like HotDoc use encrypted systems to store card details securely, in line with privacy and payment regulation.
Why is Saturday appointments cost more then mid week standard appointments?
WFMP is aware that fewer medical practices are open over a weekend making it difficult to access care when unexpected and non routine illness, accidents or concern can happen. It is for this reason our doctors chose to provide to our patient access to their regular GP on a Saturday. However in doing so there are some consideration which apply, these include:
Higher operating costs: Running a practice on weekends can mean paying staff penalty rates, which increases overheads for the practice.
No Medicare loading: Standard Saturday consults don’t attract significantly higher Medicare rebates, so practices often charge more to cover the gap.
Convenience factor: Saturday slots cater to people who can’t attend during the week—so they’re often treated as a premium service.
I need a new or repeat script or referral, do I need to see a doctor?
You are required to book an appointment with your doctor if you need a new or repeat scripts or referral. It might feel like overkill to book a full appointment just for a repeat script or referral—but there are good reasons behind it, both clinical and regulatory:
Patient safety: Even for repeat medications or ongoing specialist care, GPs need to ensure your condition hasn’t changed, that the treatment is still appropriate, and that there are no new risks or interactions.
Medico-legal responsibility: Every script or referral is a legal document. GPs are accountable for what they prescribe or refer, so they need to be confident it’s still clinically justified.
Medicare compliance: For a referral to be valid for a Medicare rebate, it must be issued before the specialist appointment and usually requires a consultation.
Backdating is illegal.
Continuity of care: These check-ins help maintain a therapeutic relationship and ensure nothing slips through the cracks—especially with chronic conditions or long-term medications