The short answer is no. You don’t need a referral to see a podiatrist in Melbourne, however, there are some circumstances that will require you to have a referral if you want to access Medicare rebates, NDIS, TAC or WorkCover.
Podiatrists are fully qualified to diagnose and treat any condition that affects the foot, ankle and lower leg without a referral from a GP. We can also directly refer for imaging such as X-ray, ultrasound and MRI and can give injections such as local anesthetics, cortisone and prolotherapy. Some of our podiatrists are also endorsed prescribers, which means they can prescribe medications like anti-inflammatories, antibiotics and other treatments like creams and ointments.
If you have health insurance then you can access the rebates from your health fund on the spot at the end of your consultation through our HICAPS machine. To access Medicare rebates, you can check with your GP if you are eligible for a Chronic Disease Management plan through Medicare and this provides a rebate for up to 5 visits per calendar year – click here to find out more. We are a registered NDIS provider and accept all self-managed, plan-managed and NDIA-managed patients at our clinic. For those on TAC or WorkCover, you will need to ensure you are eligible for our services with your case manager.
If you are looking for more information please visit our Fees and FAQs page.
Written by Andrew Maitland – Podiatrist at Melbourne Podiatry Clinic
