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What
should
you
expect
from
your
initial
consultation?
At
your
initial
visit
your
physiotherapist
will
perform
a
thorough
physical
assessment
enabling
them
to
diagnose
your
condition.
Once
your
condition
has
been
diagnosed
your
physiotherapist
will
then
explain
it
to
you
and
specific
treatment
will
be
recommended
and
commenced
to
help
solve
your
problem.
This
process
is
likely
to
take
between
45-60
minutes.
_________________________________________________________________________________
What
qualifications
will
my
physiotherapist
have?
Physiotherapists
undergo
an
intensive
4-year
university
course
to
attain
a
degree
in
physiotherapy,
which
specifically
trains
us
to
be
experts
in
the
assessment
and
treatment
of
all
musculoskeletal
conditions
(ie
bones,
muscles,
ligaments
and
nerve).
We
study
anatomy
and
physiology
to
a
standard
similar
to
Doctors.
Physiotherapists
also
traditionally
work
very
closely
with
Doctors
and
Medical
Specialists
in
mainstream
medicine,
and
undertake
regular
education
to
ensure
that
we
stay
up
to
date
with
the
latest
research
and
treatment
techniques.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Do
I
need
a
Doctor’s
referral
to
make
an
appointment?
A
Doctor’s
referral
is
welcome
but
not
necessary
if
you
are
attending
one
of
our
clinics
as
a
private
patient.
You
do
however
require
a
referral
from
your
Doctor
if
your
problem
is
related
to
a
workplace
injury,
motor
vehicle
accident,
or
if
you
are
a
Veterans’
Affairs
patient.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Do
I
receive
a
rebate
for
physiotherapy
treatment
from
my
Private
Health
Insurance
Fund?
If
you
are
in
a
Private
health
Insurance
Fund
and
are
covered
for
Ancillary
Cover
or
“extras’’
then
you
will
be
eligible
to
receive
a
rebate.
Currently
there
is
only
limited
funding
for
treatment
of
chronic
conditions
via
Medicare.
_________________________________________________________________________________
If
I
am
covered
by
my
Private
Health
Insurance
Fund
how
do
I
claim
for
my
treatment?
At
our
clinics
we
use
an
electronic
payments
and
claiming
system
called
HICAP’s.
This
system
allows
you
to
automatically
claim
your
rebate
from
your
Health
Fund
immediately
following
your
treatment.
All
you
need
is
to
present
your
Health
Fund
Card
to
one
of
our
receptionists
who
instantly
process
your
claim.
Once
this
is
completed
all
you
are
required
to
do
is
pay
the
‘gap
amount’
(the
difference
between
the
treatment
fee
and
the
rebate
you
received
from
the
Health
Fund).
This
can
be
paid
with
cash,
cheque,
credit
card
or
EFTPOS.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Is
physiotherapy
covered
by
Medicare?
There
are
some
provisions
for
limited
physiotherapy
costs
to
be
covered
under
Medicare.
To
qualify
for
this
you
must
be
suffering
from
a
condition
that
has
been
present,
or
is
likely
to
be
present
for
at
least
6
months
and
your
GP
must
be
currently
using
a
personally
managed
EPC
(Enhanced
Primary
Care)
multidisciplinary
plan.
If
you
meet
these
two
criteria
then
this
may
enable
you
to
receive
up
to
5
Medicare
funded
treatments
per
year.
To
find
out
all
necessary
details
ask
your
GP
or
contact
us
for
more
information.
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