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Information on Medicare Rebate for Breast Lymphoedema Treatment at private cllinic.
Medicare will refund $50 per visit for maximum of five visits per year. Counts towards extended Medicare Safety Net. HBF pays $48 per visit up to $1000. if you have ancillary cover. Cannot claim both for same visit. I use up my Medicare rebates first, then go onto HBF refunds.
To get Medicare rebate you must have a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements forms completed. My GP also completes an Enhanced Primary Care Program Referral Form for Allied Health Services under Medicare. GP decides if you would benefit from these services and, if so, will refer you for appropriate allied health services. This rebate is for allied health services, not just for lymphoedema. It's for patients with a chronic (or terminal) medical condition and complex care needs. The five services can be provided by a single allied health professional or shared across different professionals.
It takes the GP about half an hour to do initial forms, so may be charged for extended visit. As a pensioner my GP bulk bills me for visits. Once you get the all important Patient's Ref No, further annual plans don't take long. $250 for a year, makes it all worthwhile. No limit on how many years you can get this.
Allied health professionals are free to set the level of their fees. If your provider bulk bills there will be no charges for these services. If not, you will be charged a fee and you can claim the rebate from Medicare. You do this, not the provider.
I have 3 specialist doctors on my GP Management Plan.
This information in detail is at www.health.gov.au/mbsprimarycareitems.
I also have a partial prosthesis which is fully funded by Medicare. Up to $400 can be paid for each prosthesis every 2 years.
I wear a compression bra which is not Medicare funded, but HBf pays up to 85% of cost of bra up to $500 per year.. I have two, mine cost $140 each and replace both each year. Bras obtained from Lorraine at Femme de femme in Victoria Park.
Breast Cancer Care WA provides information. They are in the main heading of this site.
My lymphoedema sleeve supplied by Rachel Bootsma at The Lymphoedema Clinic in Carlisle. cost $117.42 and HBF paid 99.80.
This post was edited by Ness at October 16, 2014 2:22:54 PM WATime"
68 YO mother of two adult daughters. DX April 2012. Ca right breast. 10mm Grade 2. IDC. 0/2 nodes. ER/PR pos. Nodes clear. Wide local excision. Radiotherapy 6 weeks. Tamoxifen to be taken for 5 years. Moderate breast lymphoedema continuing, now Oct 2014..
Thank you for the info Jado. This is very important information for many of the Clickers particularly those on a pension. The red tape sure can be a drag!
the Click Researcher 
