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Bulk billing Hervey bay

Bulk Billing in Hervey Bay: What Is Free and What Costs Extra

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Health Hub · Fees and Medicare

“Do you bulk bill?” is the question our reception team is asked more than any other. The short answer at Main Street Medical Centre in Pialba is yes — standard GP appointments are bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders, and so are skin checks, immunisations, women’s health consultations and health assessments. A handful of procedures do carry a private fee, and this guide sets out exactly which ones, so there are no surprises at the front desk.

$0
for a standard GP consultation with a valid Medicare card
$0
for a full body skin check, including dermoscopy
$89
consultation fee if you do not hold a valid Medicare card
Bulk billing at Main Street Medical Centre in Hervey Bay, where standard GP appointments cost eligible Medicare card holders nothing
Bulk billing means the practice bills Medicare directly, so there is nothing for you to pay on the day.

What bulk billing actually means

When a practice bulk bills, it accepts the Medicare benefit as full payment for the service and bills Medicare directly. You sign (or tap) to confirm the service, and there is nothing to pay on the day and nothing to claim back afterwards.

Bulk billing applies to services Medicare covers. It does not extend to things Medicare has no item number for, which is why a small number of procedures at any Australian general practice carry a private fee. The two lists below set out where the line falls at Main Street Medical Centre.

What is bulk billed at Main Street Medical Centre

All of the following are bulk billed for patients with a valid Medicare card:

What carries a private fee

These services sit outside the Medicare benefit, either partly or entirely. The consultation attached to them is still bulk billed — the fee is for the procedure itself.

Ear microsuction — $75 per ear
The appointment to assess your ears is bulk billed; the microsuction procedure attracts the fee. See our guide to signs it is time to have your ears checked.
Iron infusion — $250
Bulk billed for DVA Gold Card holders. The consultations before and after the infusion are bulk billed for Medicare card holders.
Mole mapping — $49
OptimaScan total body photography is $49 for scans completed in 2026, then $99 from 1 January 2027. Not claimable through Medicare.

Other private fees: a commercial driver’s licence medical is $140 (no Medicare rebate applies), venesection is $120 with a Medicare rebate of $74.25, and a toenail wedge resection is up to $292 with a rebate of $172.50. WorkCover and medico-legal work is quoted case by case — call reception on (07) 4325 4000.

Skin checks are bulk billed; skin cancer surgery has a gap

This is the distinction most people are searching for. A full body skin check is a bulk billed consultation. If your GP finds something that needs removing, the biopsy or excision attracts a gap payment, because the Medicare rebate for surgical items does not cover the full cost of theatre time, consumables and pathology.

As a guide, biopsies are $25 to $50 each, a simple excision is $75 to $100, a complex excision is $100 to $200, and a flap or graft repair is around $200. Concession card holders pay reduced fees, and skin cancer surgery is bulk billed for DVA Gold and White Card holders. Your doctor will tell you the exact figure before anything is done — nothing is booked without you knowing the cost.

No Medicare card, DVA and concession card holders

If you do not hold a valid Medicare card — visitors, some visa holders, or a card that has expired — a standard consultation is $89. It is worth checking your card’s expiry before your appointment, because a lapsed card is the most common reason someone is charged unexpectedly.

DVA Gold and White Card holders are bulk billed for covered services, including skin cancer surgery and iron infusions. Concession card holders receive reduced fees on procedures that carry a gap. Full detail is on our fees page.

Frequently asked questions

Do you bulk bill everyone, or only pensioners and children?
Standard GP consultations are bulk billed for all patients with a valid Medicare card, regardless of age or concession status.
Is a skin check really bulk billed?
Yes. A full body skin check and a spot check are both bulk billed consultations for eligible Medicare card holders. Procedures such as biopsies and excisions attract a private fee, which your doctor explains before proceeding.
Is a telehealth appointment bulk billed?
Yes, provided you have had a face-to-face appointment at the practice within the previous 12 months, or you are registered with us through MyMedicare. Some exemptions apply. Those rules are set by Medicare, not by the practice.
Will I be told the cost before a procedure?
Yes. Where a service carries a private fee, your doctor or the reception team will give you the figure before anything is booked or performed. If you are unsure, ask when you make the appointment.
What is MyMedicare and do I need it?
MyMedicare is a free voluntary registration that formally links you to this practice. It unlocks some longer telehealth and care-planning items. Registering is optional and you can do it at reception.

New to the area? Our guide to finding a GP in Hervey Bay and registering as a new patient covers how to get set up.

Book a bulk billed appointment in Hervey Bay

Main Street Medical Centre is at 71 Main Street, Pialba. Standard consultations, skin checks, immunisations and women’s health appointments are bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders.

Book onlineCall (07) 4325 4000

This article is general information and is not a substitute for individual medical advice.

Last reviewed September 2026