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Victorian Public Hospitals Election Procedures - Information for Patients

The Medicare Agreement between the Commonwealth and State Governments requires that You (or your agent), elect to be treated as a Public (non-chargeable) or Private (chargeable) patient upon admission to this hospital.

YOU (or your agent) having made an informed election to be treated as a Public or Private patient upon admission to this hospital, cannot change your initial election status except for the following "unforeseen" circumstances:

  • A change in medical circumstances (ie. patients who are admitted for a particular procedure but are found to have co-morbidities not evident at admission, or develop complications)
  • A change in social circumstances (ie. change in income status resulting in an ability to pay) (ie. loss of job, bankruptcy)

A public patient

  • Will be treated by doctors nominated by the hospital
  • Cannot choose a specific doctor or provide his/her medical treatment
  • Will not be charged for medical or hospital services

You cannot choose to be a Public Patient if you elect

  • To be treated by a doctor of your own choice
  • To occupy a bed in a single room

A Private Patient

  • Will be treated by his/her nominated doctor(s) provided that the doctor(s) has the right to practice at the hospital
  • Will be responsible for the payment of the hospital accommodation fees, charges for all medical services and prostheses and dental fees

Private Health Insurance

  • Does not stop you from electing to be a public patient
  • Will cover full cost of shared ward accommodation but may not fully cover costs (depending on level of cover) if single room accommodation is chosen and you are not in a "front end deductible scheme"
  • Medicare will cover 75% of the Commonwealth Medical Benefits Schedule fee for the medical services provided to private patients while in hospital and private health insurance will cover the remaining 25% of the fee
  • Where a doctor charges a fee which exceeds the Commonwealth Medicare Benefits Scheme fee, the patient will be responsible for paying the difference between the fee charged by the doctor and the Schedule fee.

Compensable Patients

If you are, or may be, entitled to (or have already received) compensation, damages or other benefits in respect of the injury, illness or disease for which are receiving hospital care and medical treatment , all fees and charges may be met by your compensation. This includes, for example, compensation under the Accident Compensation Act 1985 (Vic), Transport Accident Act 1986 (Vic), Criminal Injuries Compensation Act 1983 (Vic), Safety Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1988 (Cth) or a claim for damages at common law.

Veterans' Affairs Patients

Veterans' Affairs patients are those for whom the Department of Veterans' Affairs has agreed to accept responsibility for hospital charges for the condition for which you are being admitted.