Yes we bulk bill Physio. But there are conditions. Due to the small amount of funding for a bulk billed session to the Physio ($58.30). So we have limited this to the following card holders below without private health insurance:
Eligibility:
- Live in Australia
-
You can get a Health Care card for up to one year if you get any of the following payments:
- ABSTUDY Living Allowance
- Austudy
- JobSeeker Payment
- Parenting Payment partnered
- Special Benefit
- Youth Allowance.
You can also get a card for up to one year if you get any of the following payments:
- Carer Allowance for a child younger than 16 – the card is for the child in your care only
- Carer Payment for short term or irregular care less than 6 months
- the maximum rate of Family Tax Benefit Part A
- Mobility Allowance if you’re not getting Disability Support Pension.
Find out more here
Updated 16/04/2024
How the income test works
We assess the gross, before tax, income you earned in the 8 weeks before you submit your claim. This is to see if you can get the card.
Your income must be below the amount in the table for your situation.
Income test when claiming and renewing a card
| Status | Weekly income | Income in an 8 week period |
|---|---|---|
| Single, no children | $769.00 | $6,152.00 |
| Couple combined, no children | $1,315.00 | $10,520.00 |
| Single, one dependent child | $1,315.00 | $10,520.00 |
| Couple combined, one child | $1,349.00 | $10,792.00 |
| For each extra child, add | $34.00 | $272.00 |
Find out More Here
Updated 16/04/2024
You are eligible for a pension concession card if you are:
- 65 years and 6 months, if you were born between 1 July 1952 and 31 December 1953
- 66 years, if you were born between 1 January 1954 and 30 June 1955
- 66 years and 6 months, if you were born between 1 July 1955 and 31 December 1956
- 67 years, if you were born on or after 1 January 1957.
Other rules you need to meet
You also need to meet:
Single person
| Income per fortnight | Amount your pension will reduce by |
|---|---|
| Up to $204 (free area) | $0 |
| Over $204 | 50 cents for each dollar over $204 |
Couple living together or apart due to ill health
Different rates apply for partners getting a payment other than a pension.
| Combined income per fortnight | Amount each member of the couple’s pension will reduce by |
|---|---|
| Up to $360 (free area) | $0 |
| Over $360 | 25 cents for each dollar over $360 |
- an assets test.
| Your situation | Homeowner | Non-homeowner |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $301,750 | $543,750 |
| A couple, combined | $451,500 | $693,500 |
| A couple, separated due to illness, combined | $451,500 | $693,500 |
| A couple, one partner eligible, combined | $451,500 | $693,500 |
What the limits are for a part pension
From 20 March 2024, part pensions cancel when your assets are over the cut off point for your situation.
If you’re a member of a couple, the limit is for both your and your partner’s assets combined, not each of you.
| Your situation | Homeowner | Non-homeowner |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $674,000 | $916,000 |
| A couple, combined | $1,012,500 | $1,254,500 |
| A couple, separated due to illness, combined | $1,196,000 | $1,438,000 |
| A couple, one partner eligible, combined | $1,012,500 | $1,254.500 |
Find out More Here
Updated 16/04/2024
The Types of Cards and Different DVA Cards Eligibility
There are three different types of Veteran’s cards each with their own DVA cards eligibility and associated entitlements:
The Veteran White Card
The White Card is the most commonly held veteran card, and is available to current and former ADF members, including some reservists and cadets. A Veteran White Card provides you access to treatment for accepted, service related, conditions and all mental health conditions if you are a veteran with continuous full-time service or meet certain reserve service requirements.
The Veteran Orange Card
The Orange Card gives you access to prescription medicines, wound care items and nutritional supplements at a concession rate. When buying prescription items, you will need to pay $7.30 for each item until you reach your Safety Net Threshold for the calendar year. If you choose a non-generic brand, you may need to pay an additional amount. The Veteran Orange Card cannot be used for medical or other healthcare treatment and extends only to prescription medication.
The Veteran Gold Card
The Veteran Gold Card provides clinically required treatment for all medical conditions, however it also has a much more specific criteria for eligibility than any other card.
What Are the DVA Cards Eligibility and Who Can Receive What?
As discussed previously, the DVA Cards eligibility range from card to card. The White Veteran Card eligibility requires you to first off be a current or former Australian Defence Force (ADF) member, including reservists and cadets, with a service-related injury or condition accepted by the DVA. You can also be a Commonwealth or Allied veteran with a service-related injury or condition accepted by your country of service, living in Australia and still be awarded with a Veterans White Card.
You can also be eligible for mental health cover under the Veteran white card if you have at least one day of continuous full-time service (CFTS) with the ADF. Alternatively, if are a reservist and have completed disaster relief service, border protection service, or were involved in a serious service-related training accident, you can also receive this cover.
To fulfill the DVA Cards eligibility for an orange card you must fulfill all the conditions of the white card, in addition to a few other select conditions. The orange card specific conditions include having a qualifying service from the Second World War while also being a resident of Australia for a minimum of 10 years.
Unlike the previous two cards, you must only meet one of the following criteria in order to receive a gold card. To be eligible you must be either, a veteran who is aged 70 years or over and has qualifying service, is an ex-prisoner of war, served in Japan between 16 August 1945 and 30 January 1946, served as part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force between 31 January 1946 and 28 April 1952; or participated in the British Nuclear Test program in Australia. You can also receive a gold Veteran card if you receive a Disability Compensation Payment at 100% of the general rate or higher or receive a Disability Compensation Payment at 50% of the general rate or higher while also receiving a Service Pension.
Find out more here
We will charge a small gap for everyone else. They are 30-minute consults. Your doctor can create a referral under a team care agreement (TCA) (Formerly Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) or chronic disease management plan), allowing up to 5 allied health consults per calendar year.
How a bulk billed physio session works?
A client presents to their local general practitioner complaining of 6 months or longer chronic musculoskeletal pain. This can be any part of the body, neck, knee, ankle, back etc. At the doctors discretion, they can then write a referral to any allied health professional for a total of 5 allied health visits per calendar year. These can all be for Physiotherapy, or a mix of allied health professions and for example have 2 podiatry and 3 Physiotherapy sessions or 4 for a dietician and 1 for exercise physiologist. We normally prefer to ask for 5 sessions of Physiotherapy to enhance the management plan and treatment course. More information can be found at the health government website.
The cost?
Medicare contributes $58.30. You will pay this upfront and then be reimbursed this payment into your bank account by medicare. As per above you need to have a concession card or pensioners card. If you do not you will be charged the full fee of $110. The client just requires the referral from the doctor (the TCA). It may already be sent via the medical centre directly to PhysioFlex.
Why we only bulk bill certain cards?
- The time we spend with each client. We dedicate 30 minutes or more with each client. The funding of $58.30 just covers 20 minutes of a Physiotherapists time.
- The quality of our service. The individual time we spend face to face with each client.
- The reporting with the medical professional equating to at least an additional 20 minutes per consult.
- Feeling undervalued and not meeting cost requirements of Physiotherapist’s wages, rental and other business operating expenses.
- We feel there should be a shift Australia wide. If clinics are providing bulk billing services for Physiotherapy, it will be to the detriment of one of the above. For example, only a 15-20 minute appointments and/or no reporting contributed to the referring GP and medical clinical.
Bulk Billed Physio Availability:
PhysioFlex currently have 5 Physiotherapists and one massage therapist. Same day appointments are available and can be booked online or by calling our reception team. You can check the exact times available here: Appointments
During your session:
The Physiotherapist will perform a comprehensive subjective examination (ask you questions about your concern/pain), perform an objective assessment (physically examine your body from head to toe analysing muscles and joint symmetry), treat and then plan. The treatment involves a plethora of available tools and services including massage, hands on manual therapy, dry needling and exercise prescription and management. The customer aways leaves with an exercise plan and is able to track this via PhysiApp on their phones. More information about the exact process can be found here: Physio Process
If you have any further questions or concerns please call the team at PhysioFlex on 55911816. We look forward to meeting you
Physio Flex – Southport Gold Coast
