Our aim is to provide high quality & affordable Gastroenterology care in the Tweed region and Gold Coast
GPs can offer a faecal immunochemical (FOBT) test every 2 years to people aged 45-49 who request it
Around 1 in 11 (9%) of Australian’s diagnosed with bowel cancer are under the age of 50
June is Bowel Cancer Awareness Month
Bowel cancer claims the lives of 103 Australians every week (5,375 people a year)
Patient Info
Dr Allen’s Fee Schedule
As of January 2020,
Consultation fees
Initial consultation is charged at $190 dollars. Medicare will reimburse around 132.30 dollars.
There is NO OUT OF POCKET expense for subsequent consultation(s) if required.
Procedures
Private procedures
If you have private health insurance, I participate in the NO GAPSchemes of all Health Funds.
This means I will bill your health insurance directly and there is NO OUT-OF POCKET EXPENSE, outside of your insurance excess (if applicable to your policy) that is paid to your insurer.
If you do not have private health insurance, but have elected to go private there is a one-off facility fee charged by the private hospital. This charge is nothing to do with me, and I have no control over it.
This covers the costs of staff and equipment for the chosen private hospital/day surgery unit you attend.
This is not covered by Medicare, but it will be the only out of pocket expense for your procedure.
Facility fees (set by private hospitals) for colonoscopy and gastroscopy approximate 350-400 dollars and 150 dollars respectively.
Public hospital procedures will not incur any costs. However, waiting list times apply, and for non-urgent procedure can be up to 1-year.
Anaesthetist
I prefer working with anaesthetists that also participate in NO GAP arrangements with private health insurers.
Pathology charges
Most pathology investigations are bulk-billed for my patients.
Occasionally, extra pathology testing is required on samples collected at the time of your procedure, and this may leave a small gap.
Should you be sent a bill please notify Dr Allen’s rooms prior to making payment.
Medical Certificates
Notification
Where possible please notify reception staff that a medical/carer certificate will be required. Certificates can then be delivered or emailed on the day of your procedure.
Please inform staff of full name required on certificate(s), date of birth and dates required away from work/school.
Certificates can be requested via email.
Patients
Dr Allen is happy to provide medical certificates according to the following:
Gastroscopy – day of procedure.
Colonoscopy – day of preparation, day of procedure and day after procedure.
NB: in most instances people will be fine to return to work/school the day after procedure.
Endoscopic ultrasound – day of procedure.
Capsule endoscopy – day of procedure only.
Carers
Dr Allen is happy to provide carer certificates for the day of procedures only, unless special circumstances exist.