BHN proudly provides quality, affordable services so everyone can get the healthcare they need.
Most community health and Commonwealth Home Support Program (CHSP) fees at BHN are based on a co-payment model. This means the government pays for most of the service (directly to BHN) and clients pay an amount based on their income (the co-payment). If you are looking for our Support at Home fees visit – Support at Home.
Fees charged by BHN are used to enhance and expand our services.
The following services may have fees.
- Cardiac Rehab
- Community Health Nursing
- Counselling at East Bentleigh
- Diabetes Education
- Dietetics – adults and children
- Exercise Physiology
- Occupational Therapy – adults and children
- Physiotherapy– adults and children
- Podiatry– adults and children
- Psychology for children
- Social Support Physical Health Group
- Speech Pathology for children
| Service (Adult & Child) | Low fee (with Concession card) | Medium fee (no Concession card) | Full fee (Private) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Community Health Nursing | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Counselling & Casework | No charge | No charge | $160 per visit |
| Dietetics & Diabetes Education | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Exercise Physiology | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Occupational Therapy | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Physiotherapy | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Speech Therapy | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Podiatry Nail surgery Wound dressing | $14 per visit Price upon application Price upon application | $28 per visit Price upon application Price upon application | $160 per visit Price upon application Price upon application |
| Home visits | $14 per visit | $28 per visit | $160 per visit |
| Allied Health Groups | $10 per group | $20 per group | Charges vary based on the service being provided. |
| Smoking Cessation | No charge | No charge | No charge |
| Social Support Groups | $10 per day (plus cost of meal) | $20 per day (plus cost of meal) | $35 per day (plus cost of meal) |
| Travel | No co-payment | No co-payment | No co-payment |
Notes
Onsite and Group services
- Adult counselling and smoking cessation (if eligible) is free
- Specialist report writing will incur an additional fee
- Off site groups may pay the venue fee rather than a co-payment to BHN
- Exercise group cards can be purchased from reception for multiple visits
Offsite and Home Visit services
- Travel fees are charged at half the hourly rate
BHN follows the Community Health income ranges set by the government. For more details, please visit the website: https://www.health.vic.gov.au/community-health/community-health-fees-schedule-and-income-ranges
FAQ’s Fees and Co-payments for clients
How much is it to see a counsellor?
Counselling is free for low-income clients. High-income clients or those with Support at Home funding (formerly Home Care Package) will pay a fee. See our fees page for more information.
Can I use Medicare bulk-billing to see a GP?
Our GP clinic at South Melbourne is a mixed-billing (private and bulk billing) practice.
We offer bulk billed appointments for
- Pensioners and Health Care Card Holders
- Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders
- Veterans Affairs Card Holders
- Children under the age of 16 and students
- Refugee and eligible asylum seekers
- People who are homeless or are at risk of homelessness
- Patients at the doctor's discretion
Our private fees include a $35 gap fee on top of the Medicare rebate. Clients can pay private fees via EFT, Cash, Credit Card (not AMEX) or online (online payments attract an additional surcharge). Medicare rebates can be processed immediately if the client pays through the HICAPS machine at our clinic.
Can I use Medicare bulk-billing to see an Allied Health Professional?
Our adult Allied Health Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) clinics at South Melbourne and Prahran are mixed billing (private and bulk-billing) practices.
- Clients in the low-income band will be Medicare Bulk-billed.
- All other clients can access the Medicare rebate. The full fee will need to be paid and we will process the rebate for you. The rebate of $60.35 will take about 48 hours be refunded.
OR
- You can use your private Health insurance extras.
You cannot use the Medicare rebate and private health insurance for the same appointment.
What if I have a concession card or pension card?
Clients with a concession or pension card are in the low-income band. See fees page for details.
How do I pay my fees?
It is preferable to pay your co-contribution fee at the time of your service via debit card or credit card.
For some services, you may receive an invoice to pay after the appointment.
What can I do if I can’t pay the fees? Can I have a fee waiver or fee reduction?
BHN fees for most clients are kept low. If you have financial difficulty and cannot pay, you can apply for a fee waiver. We will ask the reason for the waiver and the length of time it is required as this must be documented. If this applies to you, please speak to either reception or the BHN Intake team prior to your appointment.
What happens if I can’t pay my invoice within the time frame?
It is preferred for co-contribution payments to be made at the time of your service. If you can’t pay your invoice within the timeframe stated on the invoice, please email or phone our friendly finance team (details on the invoice) and they will talk you through your options.
I just started on a Support at Home program (formerly Home Care Package) and now I pay more than I used to, why is this?
Because the government funds your Support at Home program (formerly Home Care Package) to cover the cost of the service (rather than providing the funding to BHN) BHN needs to charge the full cost of the service.
This is why the rate appears different for clients using their Support at Home compared with clients paying using Community Health funding.
The amount paid to BHN is about the same, but for Community Health clients, most of the funding is provided by the Government and therefore not seen by clients.
The government requires that Support at Home and NDIS clients use their Support at Home/NDIS funding before they can use other funding sources. This ensures clients don’t access multiple funding sources, potentially causing other clients to miss out on vital services.
NDIS and Support at Home appointments charge a cancellation fee for a late notice cancellation.
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) clinic – What if I forget to bring in my Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Plan.
You will pay the full fee for the appointment if a new Enhanced Primary Care Plan is not provided.
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) clinic - Will I get bulk-billed with a concession card?
Yes, your appointment will be bulk-billed if you have a concession card and eligible Enhanced Primary Care Plan.
Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) clinic - What is the gap payment?
When you pay for the MBS clinic, you can receive the rebate amount of $60.35. BHN will apply for the rebate for you and Medicare will send the rebate your bank account registered with them.
What to do if you need to reschedule your appointment.
Please tell us as soon as possible. This will enable us to book other clients into the appointment time and help to reduce our waiting times.
If you are cancelling less than 24 hours prior to your appointment, you may be required to pay the co-contribution fee.
Some services, including NDIS or Support at Home (formerly Home Care Package) appointments may charge a fee if you cancel close to the time of the appointment. This is because we are not able to replace your appointment with another client.
Speak to our friendly staff to understand the cancellation rules for your service.