Education

Our frequently asked questions

Welcome to our FAQ page! Here, you'll find answers to some of the most common questions about our services, processes, and policies. Whether you're new to our community or looking for specific information, we're here to help.

Browse through the categories below to find the answers you need. If you can't find what you're looking for or if you have additional questions, feel free to reach out to us directly. We're dedicated to providing you with all the information you need.

Questions About A Plus Physiotherapy and Our Clinic

When can I book an appointment?

A Plus Physiotherapy is currently open between 9am and 3pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.. 

Appointment availability is visible online via our booking link and is updated in real time. Please call the clinic directly if you can’t find a suitable time and we will do what we can to help find a suitable appointment.

Do I need a referral?
No, a referral is not needed for all private patient appointments. If your GP has provided you with a Care Plan (CDM Plan), please bring your completed plan with you and ensure A Plus Physiotherapy is listed as the provider. Please note that we do not bulk bill and that a gap payment will apply. We charge our normal appointment fees and medicare will pay $58 for the allocated number of visits.
When should I arrive for my appointment?

Please arrive 10 minutes before your first appointment. This allows time to complete a short new patient injury form. If you have any paperwork related to your appointment, please bring these with you as they can provide very useful context for your practitioner. This may include scans, reports, referrals, doctor’s letters or clinical notes from a previous physiotherapist. 

Please note, if you do arrive late to your appointment, additional time can not be added as there are other clients who may be booked in after you.

How long does it take to get an appointment?

At A Plus Physiotherapy, we always try to accommodate you as soon as possible. In some cases we can offer same-day appointments. You can see all available appointments with every practitioner in the online booking portal. If you need an urgent appointment and are struggling to find a time that works for you, just contact us and we will try our best to accommodate you.

What is your cancellation policy?
Occasionally there are good reasons for cancelling an appointment and this is totally understandable. However, unlike brief medical appointments, it is unattainable to fill a physiotherapy appointment on 45 minutes notice. A $50 late cancellation fee will be applied for failure to attend or cancellation of your appointment without at least 6 hours notice. You will receive a text message reminder the day before which you will need to respond to, to ensure there is ample time to notify us. Please note a late cancellation or failure to attend is a loss to three people:

  1. A patient who is in pain and on the waitlist
  2. Delaying your own physiotherapy progress
  3. The physiotherapist who has spent the morning preparing for the session
How many sessions will I need?
This will depend on your diagnosis. How one person responds to a given injury can vary greatly to that of another person. At A Plus Physiotherapy, we will always give you a clear prognosis as to how long we expect your rehabilitation to take from the outset. We also aim to empower you with the knowledge and tools to self-manage as much as possible and will not request your return for unnecessary treatment. Therefore, please expect to have at least one follow-up appointment after your initial consultation to allow your therapist to assess your progress. At that stage, we can help work out a treatment plan to suit your injury and budget.

Frequently Asked Questions - Medicare

When can I receive subsidized physiotherapy through Medicare?

As soon as your GP has completed and sent us your CDM forms, you can book an appointment with the nominated physiotherapist in your Plan.

How many physiotherapy sessions will be covered by Medicare?

You can receive up to 5 physiotherapy sessions in a calendar year. The number of sessions you receive is determined by your GP who assesses how many sessions will be appropriate to meet your treatment needs.

Will I need to pay a gap?

Yes, you may be required to pay a gap. As of 2023, under the Medicare Benefits Schedule, your Medicare rebate will cover you for $58.30 (July 2023). 

Our priority is to give you exceptional outcomes. Charging a remaining gap fee ($41.70) allows us the time to offer you a thorough assessment and management plan, follow up with your treatment outside of formal appointments, and align your physio treatment with treatment and opinions you’re also receiving from other medical/allied health professionals within your Care Team. 

To avoid any costly surprises with part costs when you leave the physiotherapy treatment room, we advise calling clinics ahead of time before you leave home to ask for information if that particular clinic accepts Medicare referrals and to enquire up front about the gap part payment costs.

How do I receive my rebate? 

We take care of the entire claims process for you: 

  1. You pay the full fee of the consultation.
  2. We immediately swipe your Medicare card to access the rebate. 
  3. You swipe your Debit or Cheque card. You immediately receive the rebate of $58.30 back to your card.

Please note the rebate cannot be returned to a credit card. Please ensure you have a debit or cheque card if you want to access an immediate rebate. If we cannot issue the rebate you can simply lodge your receipt through MyGov. 

Alternatively:

  1. We process your claim via the online medicare claims portal
  2. You Pay the gap fee 

Note: A Plus Physiotherapy is not responsible if you do not receive a rebate from Medicare, it is your responsibility to check your rebate entitlement.

Do Medicare sessions roll-on to the next year?

Unfortunately, your physio sessions will not be transferred to the following calendar year. When your physio is covered by Medicare, make sure you attend all your appointments as physiotherapists can often provide you with useful exercises to improve your overall strength and wellbeing and prevent future re-injury.

What is considered a chronic medical condition?

Under the CDM plan, a chronic condition refers to an issue (e.g. arthritis, low back and neck pain etc) that has been or is expected to be present for at least six months. 

What is considered as complex needs?
A complex condition means that there must be three or more healthcare practitioners caring for you. This might include your GP, a podiatrist, a physio, and a dietician, for example. In summary, yes, Medicare will cover your physiotherapy session but there are certain criteria you’ll have to meet. You’ll receive a $58.30 rebate for up to five physiotherapy appointments to treat your chronic and complex conditions and receive the care you need to lead a healthy, pain free life.   Hopefully now you have a better understanding about whether physio is covered by Medicare, and the steps to take when booking your appointment. If you have any questions about anything you have read here, please don’t hesitate to call Us on tel:0401509975.

Questions About Physiotherapy

What Is Physiotherapy?
A physiotherapist is a qualified and registered allied health professional trained to help you recover from injury, reduce pain, increase mobility and restore function. They are skilled in making an accurate diagnosis and using the latest evidence based treatments to establish an individual plan for you to achieve your goals. Physiotherapists manage a broad range of conditions affecting the bones, muscles, cardiovascular system, nerves and other parts and systems of the body. You can visit our team (link) page to meet our team of physiotherapists or Book your first physiotherapy appointment now (link).
How much do physiotherapy sessions cost?

Initial consultations: $115 (45 minutes).

Subsequent standard consultations: $100 (20-45 minutes).

NDIS consultations: $193.99 (60 minutes).

Government Health card holders and pensioners receive a $10 discount on every session (you will need to show your card at the first visit. 

You may pay by Credit card, EFTPOS or Cash. Payment is required at the time of your appointment. 

Our Tyro healthpoint makes for easy on the spot claiming from your health fund. Please bring your private health care card with you to each session as we cannot process a claim without the actual card. Some health funds are now offering digital cards that can be accessed via your phone. Check with your health fund to see if your fund has this feature.

What do I bring to my appointment?

Please bring any referral letters and any scans or imaging reports that are relevant to the current problem. 

If you have private health insurance, please bring your card for on the spot claiming. A digital format that can be stored in your phone’s wallet is also acceptable.

Where possible please wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows us to see the area we need to treat and that you would feel comfortable exercising in.

What can I expect from my physiotherapy appointment?

At A Plus physiotherapy we understand the frustrations of injury and not being able to do the things you love or achieve the goals you aspire for. 

We also appreciate that by coming to us, you are investing in your health and thus, will never treat you as “just another number”. 

 We aim to provide a safe and welcoming space for you to discuss what is bringing you in. All information you provide is strictly confidential and will not be discussed with anyone else without your permission. 

Your initial session will involve us completing a full medical history. We are very detailed and methodical in our approach and will leave no stone unturned. We will then complete a physical assessment to further help determine the cause of your injury. 

We believe that no two people are the same and that treatment should always be tailored to the individual in front of us. We also believe that education is a key component of the rehabilitation process and necessary for achieving desired outcomes. 

We employ a combination of manual therapy including massage, joint mobilisations and/or manipulation, cupping, dry needling, electrotherapy or taping in combination with a detailed exercise program to help progress you through the rehabilitation process and on your way towards recovery.

How long are physiotherapy sessions?

Initial consultations: 45 minutes.

Subsequent standard consultations: 30 minutes.

NDIS consultations: 60 minutes.

You can also choose a 60 minute Long Consultation if you:

  • Would like additional information and time with your physiotherapist
  • Have multiple areas of concern
  • Your pain or injury has a long history or is particularly complex
Can physiotherapists refer for scans?

Yes, Physiotherapists are able to refer directly for bulk billed X-rays of the spine. Other areas may incur an out of pocket expense, therefore we will always discuss this with you and consult with your GP as required. 

MRI, CT and Ultrasound scans can also be ordered by Physiotherapists but will not be bulk billed.

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