Nachiappans

Nachiappan Medical and Legal Practice is a locally owned independent General Practice that is committed to delivering a wide range of safe and high quality health services.

Services Offered

Practice patients can obtain a visit at their home or nursing home, but not in the hospital. Patients are encouraged to come into the surgery if able, otherwise the practice endeavours to provide a home visit.

If the matter is deemed urgent and the doctor or nurse practitioner is unable to attend within a period of time, then we will encourage the patient to attend the Casualty Department of the local hospital.

Home Visits are not a bulk billed service attracting a minimum call out fee ($150. 00) which can be claimed back through Medicare.

Nursing Home and /or Residential Aged Care Facility visits that are additional to the current weekly scheduled visits or are an urgent attendance request will be charged to the patient /responsible person. As with all paid consults, there will be a rebate available to claim back from Medicare.

Billing Policy

The following Doctors will bulk-bill regardless of concession -

Dr Ishtiak Alam

Dr Ramu Nachiappan is a charging Doctor regardless of concession.

As of December 02nd, 2019 Dr Cho will no longer have solely bulk billed appointments. Patients may elect to see her during her morning sessions where appointments will be bulk billed. Patients booking to see Dr Cho during her afternoon sessions will be charged in accordance with AMA fees.

ALL MEDICALS ARE CHARGED except of normal drivers licence's.

Patients may choose any doctor of their choice on a given day, appointment schedule permitting. Staff will be able to provide information on request as to availability and assist with a patient’s scheduling of appointments.

Any patient may be bulk-billed on request to their practitioner in case of financial difficulty or other reasons, which can be discussed, with their practitioner, who may then instruct the receptionist. However, unless there is exceptional circumstance, refusal may occur.
The authority to bulk-bill any patient is not the prerogative of the medical receptionist.
Please do not apply undue pressure on the reception staff by insisting.

New and intending patients of the practice will be billed /bulk billed according to the policy of the Doctor they are seeing.

Patients are advised to call 000 in case of an emergency or call the surgery for the number of the after hours Doctor on call if it is urgent.

Please call the surgery number on 08 8087 3620 and listen to the recorded message, if there is a practitioner available for after hours visit.

Work Cover

Dr Nachiappan is willing to see Work Cover (work injury) related consultations and is willing to see patients of our practice and other practices in Broken Hill where their usual treating General Practitioner is reluctant to do so.

All patients will be required to pay for the consultation at the time of consult and then be reimbursed by their employer or insurer at a later date.

Work Cover patients are not billed to the insurer for services rendered at the practice, even if the insurer accepts liability for the injury. All Work Cover reports and consults are directly payable by the injured worker and then reimbursement sought from their insurer.

Excisions, Pap smears and results of investigations

Excision appointments are made for Tuesdays with Dr Cho and will be bulk billed.

Women's Health appointments and procedures are made for Thursday's with Dr Cho and procedures will be bulk billed.

Patients are encouraged to return to the practice after investigations including Pap smears to obtain their results by appointment.

Results of any and all investigation as well as other patient matters are generally not encouraged to be discussed over the telephone, this is in keeping with confidentiality requirements of a medical practice and protects the privacy of patients from other third parties not privy to such personal information.

Complaints

Patients are encouraged to raise issues of non-agreement with the practice receptionist if the matter can be dealt with summarily. If the matter is not adequately dealt with by a simple inquiry or it is a matter that a doctor or the Office Manager needs addressing then patients are encouraged to leave a note in writing (Suggestion Box at front counter) or to approach the Office Manager by appointment.

Most issues raised by patients can be dealt with by an adequate explanation by the individual concerned. Patients are encouraged to raise any complaint against the Practice with members of the Medical Practice prior to consideration of legal alternatives or authorities including the Health Insurance Commission and the Health Care Complaints Commission.