Patient Information
REFERRALS
With a valid referral, we are able to electronically send your claim to Medicare for the rebate. Please ensure you have registered your bank account details with Medicare for us to be able to do this for you. Private health insurance does not cover outpatient psychiatric consults. There are no rebates for non-attendance or late cancellation fees.
Dr Blenkin requires a referral, ideally from your GP (for a higher Medicare rebate), or other medical specialist. Referrals from GPs expire after 12 months, and specialist referrals expire after 3 months. A valid referral is needed in order to be eligible for a Medicare rebate.
If your new patient appointment has been cancelled or rescheduled more than three times and/or your referral is over 18 months old, your doctor may require a new referral to be sent in and reviewed again, before offering to reschedule again.
WHAT TO BRING
Please remember to bring your doctor’s referral to ensure a rebate from Medicare. It is always helpful to bring your medication summary, even of non-prescription medications and medications that are prescribed for physical (not mental) health.
PRESCRIPTIONS
It is not possible to obtain a prescription from Dr Melanie Blenkin for any medication prior to your first appointment. Please let Dr Blenkin know if any scripts are required within your appointment.
If scripts are required between appointments, a fee may be incurred, or an appointment may be required. If you require a script outside of a consultation, please email reception at mbpsych@blenkin.com.au with your full name and DOB. This will be facilitated if possible.
You may need to see your GP if it cannot be facilitated. Dr Blenkin can send you an eScript via SMS or email. If you do not want eScript, you must provide full pharmacy details (company name, postal address and fax number), and we shall call to advise once this has been sent through.
NON-ATTENDANCE / CANCELLATION
A late-cancellation fee applies to appointments cancelled with same-day notice. This is applied at the discretion of your doctor.
A non-attendance fee is automatically applied for missed or “forgotten” appointments.
If the office is unattended, please leave a voicemail message of your request to cancel an appointment and a receptionist will attend to this when the clinic is next open.
ZERO TOLERANCE
We prioritise a culture of respect, compassion and professionalism to ensure the well-being of our patients and staff. This policy is designed to address and prevent any form of abuse directed towards our staff. We have a zero-tolerance policy for abuse towards health care staff. In cases where abuse is substantiated, Dr Blenkin reserves the right to discontinue care for the patient.
By adhering to this policy, we aim to create a safe and supportive environment for all, ensuring optimal patient care and well-being.