Fee List
Dr. Spivak's fees are subject to a periodic review and may change accordingly. All patients will be notified of any adjustments in a timely manner. Typically, fees are reviewed on an annual basis to ensure transparency and fairness.
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Please ensure that you are informed about the latest Medicare policies regarding the Medicare Safety Net. It is important to remember that registration is required every calendar year.
We recommend scheduling at least two follow-up appointments during your visit with Dr. Spivak to ensure you secure your future appointments and avoid any scheduling conflicts.
New Patient Appointment
A new patient appointment typically lasts at least 45 minutes, during which all necessary paperwork, including prescriptions, letters to GPs, referrals, and medical certificates, will be completed.
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For initial bookings, a deposit of 50% is required at the time of scheduling. This deposit will be applied to the cost of the initial consultation and is fully refundable if you change or cancel your appointment at least one week in advance. However, if you do not attend or cancel less than one week before your appointment, the deposit will be forfeited, as we may not be able to reallocate that time slot to another patient. We regret that this policy is necessary to minimize no-shows and ensure that available appointments can be accessed by those in need.
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Ongoing Appointments
A standard follow-up appointment with Dr. Valeria Spivak typically lasts between 30 to 60 minutes.
If you wish to schedule a longer review, please inform our reception staff, as a higher fee will apply. Should your consultation exceed the allocated time, you will be responsible for paying the difference, which will also incur a higher fee.
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All appointments must be booked by phone. Please contact us at 07 3184 0400 to speak with one of our friendly receptionists. Please note that we do not accept bookings via email, and any such requests will not be answered.
Consult fee information
Please be advised that Dr. Valeria Spivak operates as a private specialist, and all consultations are billed privately. Our reception staff will submit all billing to Medicare on your behalf, and you can expect to receive a rebate directly into the bank account registered with Medicare.
Bulk Billing
Dr. Spivak does not offer bulk billing; all consultations are billed privately. Please note that there are no discounts available for pension or healthcare card holders.
Private Health
We do not accept any private health funds directly. However, we can provide you with a receipt that you can submit to your health fund for reimbursement depending on your coverage.
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**Outpatient psychiatry services do not attract private health cover.
Workcover
If you are under a WorkCover claim, please note that you must pay for the consultation upfront, as we cannot bill WorkCover directly. After payment, we will provide a receipt for you to claim reimbursement from your WorkCover provider.
Cancellation and Confirming Policy
Cancelling your appointment
Please provide at least one week’s notice (seven days) when canceling or rescheduling an appointment.
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It is the patient's responsibility to keep track of their appointments. We send a courtesy text message reminder seven days prior to your appointment, and if you do not confirm, we will follow up with a courtesy phone call.
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If you cancel or do not attend your appointment within the seven-day notice period, a cancellation fee will be charged, equivalent to the cost of the consultation. This fee must be paid prior to rebooking another appointment.
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The importance of confirming your appointment
As part of our one-week cancellation policy, it is crucial that you confirm your appointment. We send a courtesy reminder via HotDoc text message fourteen days prior, and if the appointment is not confirmed by seven days, we will send another reminder. It is your responsibility to attend your appointment or cancel by calling us on 07 3184 0400.
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If you do not confirm your appointment, it may be subject to cancellation, particularly for new patient appointments. We cannot risk having unconfirmed appointments on the day, and a cancellation fee will be applied in such cases.
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It is important to remember that the seven days notice period excludes public holidays and weekends. If you have an appointment on a Tuesday, please contact us on Monday the week before by close of business that day.
If you are requesting to reschedule an appointment within the seven days, this will be considered a cancellation and a fee will be charged.
Have you incurred a cancellation fee?
As psychiatry services are in high demand, it is essential for us to ensure continuity of care for all our patients. If you incur a cancellation fee, it reflects the time that Dr. Valeria Spivak could have allocated to another patient in need, given our ongoing waitlist. Thank you for your understanding.
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If a cancellation fee is not paid, a patient is unable to rebook an appointment with Dr Valeria Spivak.
Cancellation Fee Waives
We understand that emergencies and unexpected circumstances can arise, making it difficult to provide one week’s notice for cancellations. If you encounter such a situation, please inform our reception staff, and your cancellation fee may be waived at Dr. Valeria Spivak's discretion. Thank you for your understanding.
Are you running late?
If you arrive more than 10 minutes late for your appointment or do not attend, the full consultation fee will be charged, with no associated Medicare rebate. If you are unwell and prefer to stay at home, Dr. Spivak can offer phone consultations as an alternative.
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If you are running late, please let reception know on
0435 074 567