I had an accident involving a broken bone, and the hospital emergency department referred me to a specialist, an orthopaedic surgeon. I went twice and paid $380 total. I submitted my receipts online and after 4 weeks have received an email from medicare saying they are refusing to pay because there s no referral details. I dont know how to even begin to sort this out, if I even can. I just checked the receipt and there is a referrer on there.
https://findus.servicesaustralia.gov.au/
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/self-service#medicare
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/better-access-initiativ…
What is an acceptable timeframe to answer your call?
Best give up then
Actually, last time I called them it was pretty much instant. Also, very helpful in sorting out issue.
Pam, do you want to sort this out or not?
If you think the rebate isn't worth your precious time, you don't have to contact them.
"Please give me advice"
- Logical advice given on next steps
"No I don't want to"
……..
I called them recently at around 1.30pm and waited about 15mins for them to answer. Is 15 mins not worth it to recoup hundreds of dollars?
I hope you have a quick recovery Pam. Stay safe out there.
Another classic Pam drama!
That's actually a prequel to this; sequel is a following post (which you know is inevitable)
Contact the specialist and ask if they received a standard type referral from the hospital for you? Might be a quicker 1st call than Medicare and for all you know they may have seen it before or be able to give you more info etc.
The issue is likely, that Medicare require a provider number from the referrer.
The hospital referral may not contain that
This. Often Hospital referrals are also written on someone else's letter or on behalf. You will need to make sure the provider number is for the correct person. Otherwise sometimes it will get rejected e.g. Dr Y wrote on Dr X letter without handwriting their own provider number, you enter the provider number on the letterhead.
Id call. I had similar where Medicare rejected ckaims repeatedly without reason provided
. Only when i rang I got the actual explanation and what to do to claim successfully. They wait time wasnt bad.
Resubmit the claim with the referral details?
Call Medicare?
Importantly, are you now able to recommence recycling?
this will never be resolved until medicare is reform!
i recommend
setting up a new politcial party (pam political party, PPP)
get enough supporters
get votes
get into parliment
become PM
reform medicare
get benefit paid
you can do it
go start now, dont come back until you have ur benefit paid
Call Medicare and advise that the referral details are on the receipt.
If the details are wrong contact the specialist and ask them to add the correct referral details if they have them, or chase up the hospital if they don't.
I really hate it when my 100% cashbacks don’t track successfully
Sounds like 2x consults without surgery so the rebate will be minuscule.
That’s disappointing. Still, Medicarerewards is better than nothing, I suppose
received an email from medicare saying they are refusing to pay because there s no referral details.
Give medicare the referral details…..duh
Referral details needs to be entered correctly on the Specialists system - if they are doing it manually, there may be entry errors :/
Start with a call to the specialists admin and let them know that medicare rejected your rebate - see what they say
It could be that the intern at the hospital that made the referral to the specialist does not have a provider number (which they do not have to have, but should of made the referral on behalf on their consultant - who should have a provider number)
HELLOPAM!
Not again, sounds like you need a copy of the referral
How do some people function
How do some people function
There are some things the brain can’t process. For everything else, there’s OzBargain forums
Is it just me or anyone else want to give Pam a warm hug?:p
TOFTT👍
Sending virtual hug
Not gonna lie, I don't mind a bit of drama at OzB.
It’ll be OK. At least the government will be pleased to hear that Medicare is making an impact on mental health
Was saying because she keeps having these “unfortunate” problems.
ED discharge summary is your referral
Not if it doesn’t have a provider number on it
All ED discharge summaries will have the admitting officer's provider number or the author's provider number
Unlike Pam to post & ghost
Maybe still on hold @ Medicare
I was on hold for an hour and sorted it without having to do anything else, . Never told why it was refused, Apparently refund coming tomorrow, and its not that much as I thought
No problem Pam, everyone was happy to help.
Contact Medicare?