Now for something completely different

[Docker123]

25 minutes ago, GUT2407 said:

What annoys me about bulk billing is that they can double dip, you know well we will billed I are but you still owe us $450 as happene the othe day with an MRI.

 

‘’But if I get legal aid, I get about 1/4 of my private rate and no top up a few weeks ago (actually probably a year ago as pre lock down)  I was on Legal aid, another bloke was private rates, the third was a QC, so between them 15x per day what I was getting, but as I appeared for the kiddies the Judge kept asking me to do all the unpaid running around a making enquires etc.

I found out some interesting things about mri cost, or radiography in general.

 

Each machine has specific approvals for bulk billing. Some have none, some have for GPs, some for specialists, some for both. Also varies on how the problem is described on the referral.

 

I had a referral from the neurosurgeon and went to the local. Says the receptionist: this is from a specialist, therefore the cost is $lots. The machine is not approved for a specialist to order this test.

 

So, I went shopping — knowing that radiography and pathology referrals can be used at any service, not matter the company name on the form. Called another place, yep no worries. All covered.

 

Another experience was my GP wanted a special mri test. She spoke to the service and they essentially dictated the wording required to get it covered by Medicare.

 

[Chiliburn]

Thanks fellows

[GUT2407]

10 hours ago, Docker123 said:

I found out some interesting things about mri cost, or radiography in general.

 

Each machine has specific approvals for bulk billing. Some have none, some have for GPs, some for specialists, some for both. Also varies on how the problem is described on the referral.

 

I had a referral from the neurosurgeon and went to the local. Says the receptionist: this is from a specialist, therefore the cost is $lots. The machine is not approved for a specialist to order this test.

 

So, I went shopping — knowing that radiography and pathology referrals can be used at any service, not matter the company name on the form. Called another place, yep no worries. All covered.

 

Another experience was my GP wanted a special mri test. She spoke to the service and they essentially dictated the wording required to get it covered by Medicare.

 

Yep, though I don’t know of any up here that cover it for a GP only a specialist, but that may also vary by condition being scanned for. Both my recent GPS had “tame” specialists who would order one before the initial consult, basically because they thought seeing you was a waste of time without one.

 

For me the biggest issue is the caliber of the machine, not being small and also a touch claustrophobic I want the bigger one. One Doc on hearing this offered to send me to Sydney where they do horses (not uncommon apparently).

[Docker123]

There is a standing MRI for those with claustrophobia or who may match the one size forms all.

 

However, the standing part may rule it out for you.

 

[mr walker]

On 3/12/2021 at 9:47 AM, OzKiwiJJ said:

NZ whitebait is quite different to Australian whitebait. The fish are tiny, not much bigger than a beansprout and they are very soft. They don't really work individually fried like the Aussie ones.

Based on advice from others, including you, we had a whitebait fritter lunch on our 'must-do's' when we toured NZ. As I recall your advice was to try & experience this on the West Coast of Sth Island.

On our 2019 landtour, we had our whitebait experience at Haarst & it was sure worth it. A whitebait fritter with a local brew was a great lunch on our leg from Queenstown to Franz Josef.

[MMDown Under]

1 hour ago, mr walker said:

Based on advice from others, including you, we had a whitebait fritter lunch on our 'must-do's' when we toured NZ. As I recall your advice was to try & experience this on the West Coast of Sth Island.

On our 2019 landtour, we had our whitebait experience at Haarst & it was sure worth it. A whitebait fritter with a local brew was a great lunch on our leg from Queenstown to Franz Josef.

You can't beat local knowledge.  Glad your recommended whitebait experience at Haarst was worth it.  Where is Haarst?

When do you think NZ will open their borders to Aussies?  ? this year. 

[mr walker]

19 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

You can't beat local knowledge.  Glad your recommended whitebait experience at Haarst was worth it.  Where is Haarst?

When do you think NZ will open their borders to Aussies?  ? this year. 

yes, one of the big plusses for CC is the good advice you can get from our fellow members. Julie's advice, including that we must go to Mt Cook, really added to our NZ experience. 

Haarst is on the West Coast, sort of above Fiordland I guess. We drove from Queenstown, via Wanaka & westwards to Haarst - a very spectacular route. The hotel where we had the whitebait was just before the bridge across the river.

From there we continued north along the coast to Franz Josef, where we stayed that night.

 

I'm not sure when travel will resume to NZ. but hope it's later this year.

[By The Bay]

24 minutes ago, MMDown Under said:

Where is Haarst?

 

Just south of Ship Creek. Just North of the Fjords.

[NSWP]

35 minutes ago, mr walker said:

yes, one of the big plusses for CC is the good advice you can get from our fellow members. Julie's advice, including that we must go to Mt Cook, really added to our NZ experience. 

Haarst is on the West Coast, sort of above Fiordland I guess. We drove from Queenstown, via Wanaka & westwards to Haarst - a very spectacular route. The hotel where we had the whitebait was just before the bridge across the river.

From there we continued north along the coast to Franz Josef, where we stayed that night.

 

I'm not sure when travel will resume to NZ. but hope it's later this year.

What intrigues me is why the Kiwis can come here, but we cannot go there. Bit rough.

[MicCanberra]

We can go to NZ, just need to quarantine

[NSWP]

1 minute ago, MicCanberra said:

We can go to NZ, just need to quarantine

And pay the fees.

[By The Bay]

36 minutes ago, MicCanberra said:

We can go to NZ, just need to quarantine

Would we not need to get an exemption to leave Oz?

Edited March 13, 2021 by By The Bay

[MMDown Under]

2 hours ago, By The Bay said:

Just south of Ship Creek. Just North of the Fjords.

Thanks.  We must have gone there as we drove down West Coast and crossed to East Coast via Wanaka.  NZ was having a drought and our hire car got filled with dust.  Then Milford Sound had midges the size of little helicopters!  Any wonder, I'm one of the rare people who like the North Island better than the South Island.  

[OzKiwiJJ]

7 hours ago, mr walker said:

Based on advice from others, including you, we had a whitebait fritter lunch on our 'must-do's' when we toured NZ. As I recall your advice was to try & experience this on the West Coast of Sth Island.

On our 2019 landtour, we had our whitebait experience at Haarst & it was sure worth it. A whitebait fritter with a local brew was a great lunch on our leg from Queenstown to Franz Josef.

Good to hear you enjoyed it. The South Island does have the best whitebait in NZ.

[OzKiwiJJ]

6 hours ago, By The Bay said:

Just south of Ship Creek. Just North of the Fjords.

The Haast Pass is the main route from the Queenstown/Wanaka region to the West Coast. There are very few passes over the Southern Alps. The next one is Arthur's Pass which isnear Christchurch and on the TranzAlpine route.

[OzKiwiJJ]

3 hours ago, MMDown Under said:

Thanks.  We must have gone there as we drove down West Coast and crossed to East Coast via Wanaka.  NZ was having a drought and our hire car got filled with dust.  Then Milford Sound had midges the size of little helicopters!  Any wonder, I'm one of the rare people who like the North Island better than the South Island.  

Ah, the dreaded NZ sandflies. It's funny but when I lived in NZ they never bit me but after living in Australia for a few years they had a feast on me. ☹

[Blackduck59]

Watching Coast Australia, today's episode is Port Philip Bay to Portland.

[Docker123]

34 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Watching Coast Australia, today's episode is Port Philip Bay to Portland.

Did you see me waving?

 

[Blackduck59]

Sorry Adrian, I missed that part. I don't recall the name of the lighthouse but apparently it is a favourite spot for photographers to photograph the rough seas with passing vessels.

[possum52]

17 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

Sorry Adrian, I missed that part. I don't recall the name of the lighthouse but apparently it is a favourite spot for photographers to photograph the rough seas with passing vessels.

Was the lighthouse at Cape Otway Lyle? Did it show the Great Ocean Road? 

[Blackduck59]

I think it is Point Lonsdale Light house. I will have to re-watch to compare the pictures. I think that what they were talking about was photographing the ships as they come through the "rip" transiting into Port Phillip bay. They didn't show the Great Ocean road this time but did touch on the Apostles briefly apparently there are some more under the water farther out that they have discovered with detailed charting sonar.

[MMDown Under]

On 3/12/2021 at 8:23 PM, Docker123 said:

I found out some interesting things about mri cost, or radiography in general.

 

Each machine has specific approvals for bulk billing. Some have none, some have for GPs, some for specialists, some for both. Also varies on how the problem is described on the referral.

 

I had a referral from the neurosurgeon and went to the local. Says the receptionist: this is from a specialist, therefore the cost is $lots. The machine is not approved for a specialist to order this test.

 

So, I went shopping — knowing that radiography and pathology referrals can be used at any service, not matter the company name on the form. Called another place, yep no worries. All covered.

 

Another experience was my GP wanted a special mri test. She spoke to the service and they essentially dictated the wording required to get it covered by Medicare.

 

Thanks a lot for that good advice.  I didn't realise that radiography and pathology tests can be used at any service.  When I got referred to a heart specialist years ago he ordered a test which wasn't covered by Medicare and I had to pay the lot.  I was surprised, at the time, as my GP bulk bills.  Later When I was in Prince Charles Hospital, the Specialist said I could transfer to the Specialist and the private hospital in the same complex.  I said no thanks.  I'm very happy here.

My doctor recently sent me for another test and it was bulk billed.  

I know to shop around for chemists, as they charge different prices for the same medicine.  

[GUT2407]

One thing about many scans and tests (and I’ve had my share and a few other peoples as well) is ask your doctor if they have a preference, ie when my pain specialist sends me for MRI’s he requests a certain doctor do the reports.

 

One blood test my GP prefers me to get at one pathology as he says they’re results are more consistent. He had one patient get two on the one day from the two local spots and got vastly different numbers.

[possum52]

48 minutes ago, Blackduck59 said:

I think it is Point Lonsdale Light house. I will have to re-watch to compare the pictures. I think that what they were talking about was photographing the ships as they come through the "rip" transiting into Port Phillip bay. They didn't show the Great Ocean road this time but did touch on the Apostles briefly apparently there are some more under the water farther out that they have discovered with detailed charting sonar.

Thanks Lyle, I must find it and watch. My great grandfather was a lighthouse keeper at both Point Londsdale and Cape Otway as well as at Warrnambool. Did they by chance show the penguin colony and its protectors at Warrnambool.

 

Leigh

[Blackduck59]

They did show the penguins and the guardians. So cool to see a practical way to protect the little penguins.