Skip the queue - Answers to top patient questions:

Why does my invoice show a procedure that was longer than my operation?

Procedure durations are almost always longer than the surgery time. Eg. if the operation is 45 minutes, the procedure duration will likely be an hour or longer. This is because the patient needs to be anaesthetised before the surgery starts, then woken up afterwards. The anaesthetist charges for as long as they are responsible for the patient.

What are the anaesthetic item numbers?

Item numbers are unique identifiers matched to different parts of a procedure. They can match anything from units of time (often charged in 10 minute increments), to equipment and more. The items that will be used in your surgery are only confirmed after your surgery, however your coverage for your procedure can be confirmed using the surgical item numbers.

Why is my invoice more/less than my quote?

Quotes are only an estimate of costs as there are many variables in every procedure. It's only after the procedure that these costs (including duration and equipment used) can be confirmed. Note: final invoices costs could be more or less than the quoted charge.

Why does my invoice say I have severe systemic disease?

This is the item number that Medicare uses to identify that the patient needed a bit more attention from the anaesthetist. There are a range of reasons that this might appear on your invoice including blood pressure, BMI or sleep apnoea.

Does my invoice include GST?

This will vary on a case by case basis. If your invoice includes GST, there will be a line item on your invoice which shows GST. If there is no GST visible on your invoice, then the invoice doesn't include GST.