Patient Costs and Billing

For eligible individuals with eligible tests, the pathology test cost will be bulk billed to Medicare. Patients will need to sign the Medicare Assignment section on the request for, have a valid Medicare card and meet the eligibility criteria for testing.

For pathology tests that don’t attract a Medicare rebate, VCS Pathology will issue a bill to the patient directly. Our fee will be reflective of the bulk billing rate arrangement with Medicare.

 

When should fees be waived?

Consistent with our purpose as a not-for-profit organisation and where a test cannot be bulk billed to Medicare, patient fees will be waived under the circumstances below:

  • The patient has a current valid Health Care Card / Pension Card
  • The patient is from a vulnerable population which includes one of the following:
    • Identifies as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander 
    • Is experiencing significant financial hardship 
    • A refugee or asylum seeker
  • The pathology specimen was collected at one of the following:
    • An Aboriginal Health Service 
    • A Community Health Service 
    • Melbourne Sexual Health Centre 
    • Public Hospitals including the Royal Women’s Hospital

If you have a current valid Health Care Card / Pension Card and have received a bill from VCS Pathology, please contact us

Students

Invoices for patients with Overseas Student Health Cover (SCHC) may be billed directly to Allianz Overseas Health Cover (OSHC) on provision of a valid membership number or BUPA OSHC on provision of a valid membership number and expiry date.  

Get in touch

To find out more about what we do or how we can work together, please get in touch. 

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