Itemised fees, no hidden costs
Consultation fees published; surgery quoted item by item before anything is booked; Medicare rebates lodged electronically at the time of payment.
Initial and review
The practice does not bulk-bill. Payment is accepted by Cash, EFTPOS, Visa and MasterCard (AMEX and Diners are not).
A current GP referral is needed for the Medicare rebate to apply. Without one on the day the consultation can still go ahead — the rebate just will not be paid. Referrals cannot be backdated.
| Service | Fee | Rebate | Out of pocket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial consultation Medicare item 104. | $275 | $86.15 | $188.85 |
Review consultation Medicare item 105. MoreUsed when you return for a non-operative problem or for a follow-up that is not post-surgical. | $180 | $43.35 | $136.65 |
Post-operative reviews (aftercare) Included in your surgical fee. MoreStandard six-week post-operative reviews — in person or by telehealth — are aftercare and included in the surgical fee. There is no separate charge. | — | — | — |
Telehealth follow-up Follow-up only — new patients seen in person. MoreCharged at the same rate as an in-person review consultation (Medicare item 105). Six-week post-operative reviews are aftercare and not charged separately — see the row above. | $180 | $43.35 | $136.65 |
DVA Gold / White Card Current GP referral required. MoreWhite Card condition must match presenting complaint. | Billed to DVA | — | — |
| WorkCover Current doctor's referral required. | Billed to insurer | — | — |
Post-operative follow-up: the six-week review is aftercare and is included in the surgical fee — whether it is in person or by telehealth. Shoulder patients are typically reviewed again at 3-monthly checkpoints over the first year; other regions vary by procedure. Reviews after the aftercare period are charged at the $180 review fee (Medicare item 105, $43.35 rebate, $136.65 out-of-pocket).
A written quote, walked through
with you
Surgery is not priced by procedure on this page because every operation is quoted to the patient. If surgery is recommended at your consultation, you will receive a written quotation during the same visit covering:
- Surgeon's fee The Medicare item, the rebate, the gap.
- Assistant surgeon fee Where required by the procedure.
- Anaesthetist fee Quoted separately by the anaesthetic group.
- Hospital fee Insured patients: the hospital excess on your policy (usually a single annual excess, not a per-admission charge — confirm with your fund). Self-funded patients: quoted by the hospital and discussed at the time.
There are no fees added afterwards. Patients who go on to surgery have a clear total cost before the date is booked. The surgery quote includes the first post-operative review with Dr Hirpara at no additional charge.
Surgical fees follow the AMA schedule
Dr Hirpara's surgical fees are guided by the Australian Medical Association's schedule of fees. The practice does not participate in no-gap or known-gap arrangements. The exact figure is in the written quote provided at the consultation; there are no surprises on the day of surgery, or afterwards.
Joint replacement cover: shoulder, elbow and wrist arthroplasty are restricted procedures under the federal tier system — typically covered only on Gold policies. Silver and lower tiers usually exclude joint replacement; Silver Plus may include it but varies by fund and product. If arthroplasty is on the table, please confirm cover with your fund before the consult — they can tell you in writing.
Post-operative rehabilitation
Most shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand operations need post-operative therapy. Ruby Doolan runs the on-site hand-therapy service through Extend Rehabilitation; George Labor handles shoulder physiotherapy in the same suite.
Therapy fees are discussed at the first session. Subsequent appointments can usually be arranged closer to home for patients travelling from outside Rockhampton.
| Service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Hand therapy / physiotherapy Length and treatment determine the fee. HICAPS available on the day for the consult; receipts issued for splints, casts and aids. | Discussed at first session |
| Medicare rebate (EPC plan) Only available if your GP refers you under an Enhanced Primary Care plan. | Partial rebate |
| Private health "extras" Most major funds reimburse part of the cost; please check with yours before the appointment. | Varies by fund |
Insured, uninsured, or self-funded
Patients are welcome regardless of insurance status. The path differs once surgery is on the table:
- Privately insured Most non-arthroplasty shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand procedures sit within cover on a Bronze-or-higher policy. Your out-of-pocket on the day is the hospital excess (usually paid once in a calendar year) plus any surgeon, assistant or anaesthetist gap. Joint replacement is restricted to Gold tier on most funds — confirm with yours before booking.
- Uninsured / self-funded Private-hospital costs are discussed at the consultation; some procedures are practical as self-funded operations, others are not. Taking out private cover is also an option, with the standard 12-month waiting period for pre-existing conditions — and longer to qualify for Gold tier joint replacement.
- WorkCover Billed direct to the insurer with a current doctor's referral. The practice handles the WorkCover correspondence.
- DVA Gold / White Card Billed direct to DVA. Gold Card patients are accepted for any presenting condition with a current referral; White Card patients only for the condition attached to the card.
Ring the practice and
we will walk you through
Fees can change between Medicare schedule reviews. The figures above are current at time of writing. Anything not listed — ring the practice and we will quote it for you before booking. Full referral, telehealth and post-op detail is in the frequently asked questions.
