[tel2]

OK so when DS got all his bloods done last week (standard ones as well as genetic ones) I spoke to the pathologist who told me it will be bulkbilled (which is great )

Now I'm reading up on these blood tests and some of them (especially the Fragile X and Molecular Kareotyping) are usually not bulk billed. I'm a little annoyed at that but thought hey I'll pay the $100 but OMG some of these tests cost over $500 !!!

Can someone clarify the $500 - surely it is a typo. And it was only $50.

Thankyou heaps for your advice

[ambwrose]

Where did you get them done? At your hospital or a pathologists?
Any tests we've had done like that have been done at the hospital so I don't pay for them. Minor bloods get done at QML who bulk bill DS.

Margaret

[liveworkplay]

$500 is not a misprint. However, if it was done at the hospital/outpatients clinic, you will be bulk billed. Private path may charge you but I would take the word of the pathologist, they are usually correct.

[tel2]

I got them done at a pathologists that was part of a private hosptial. Before going in I did call them to confirm that it was all bulk billed and they said YES, then when I went in they confirmed it once again. And they did make me sign something

I might have to call the actual pathology centre accounts department. If I got to pay for these I hope they can offer me a payment plan I don't have to see the pediatrician till September so there is no rush to get them but still I want to know where I stand with payment

[tel2]

liveworkplay - OMG you serious ? $500 !!! If I only knew I would've saved up for these blood tests Both pathologists I spoke to said YES it's bulk billed, but the pediatrician should've said something to me

Anyway i'll call the pathology accounts department on Tuesday to sort this all out....grrrr

Thankyou everyone

[CrunchyNut]

We've had genetic bloods, fragile x's etc done in private, public & at pathologists and never paid a cent. The other thing is you might need to check that they can actually do them, we had to specifically go into the Childrens Hospital for some the other week as the other centres couldn't do them.

[bubba boo]

Yes it was about that for ds1's tests at a private pathology but as paed had a deal with them (after they were reminded of it by the paed ) we got it bulk billed.

[CFMummy]

They usualy give an acount out even if its bulk billed. Or they send a form for you to do the medicare part and then they get the money from medicare. One of the tests DD2 has regulary cost $1500 I pay $40 medicare covers the rest.
I hope this makes sence

[mez70]

Sadly the genetic Testing ones are not done at the regular labs although they can and do take the blood sample. Genetic Testing and Karotyping is so specialised that they are usually sent to the Genetics Services lab in Each State eg in Vic it goes to Victorian Genetic Services and they then privately bill the client. The Path lab was correct in saying "their" tests are bulk billed however they should have added the disclaimer that due to the specialised testing of Frag X etc that they are sent to a different lab and you may be billed for theses. I know my DD's Frag X testing coast$380.00 when she had it done 7 years ago. Do you have a health Care Card for your Child?? If you do give them a call I know with my DD's account from VGS all I had to do was send in a copy of her HCC and the billed and they then did something to the billing that meant it was fulled covered (eg went to bulk billing). It is not always the Dr's fault though as they may not be aware that the labs are charging ESPECECIALLY if tthey have requested bulk bill please

[vääräsääri]

DS has had every test under the sun... We have always been bulk billed whether it's been through the children's hospital or private pathology. I'm not sure if this is correct or not, but our neurologist told us that whether these more specialised/expensive tests are covered can come down to why they're being done. He said he basically had to use the right key words on the referral.

For fragile X and karyotyping, something like "developmental delay" was justification enough, but by the time we were having tests done on DS that could only be carried out by one or two labs in the world and cost something like $7000, he was having to write a small essay on the whys and wherefores to get the government to pick up the tab.