What Difference Does This Make for My Patient? Named referrals allow access to Medicare-rebated investigations and PBS-listed medications-including critical treatments such as some types of chemotherapy. Unnamed referrals require all investigations to be arranged in-hospital and may limit access to some medications. As a result, the care pathway may be less efficient and more limited for your patients. As an example, if a patient is seen in the Neurology clinic after a suspected Transient Ischaemic Attack, the MRI/MRA brain, heart bug, carotid dopplers, pathology for coagulation screen etc all must be arranged within the hospital. If a patient can access fully-Medicare rebated services for these investigations, they may be able to be arranged in a more timely and efficient manner. Will a Named Referral Delay My Patient Being Seen? No. Triage is based on urgency, not referral type. If the named specialist is unavailable in the required timeframe, then the patient will be advised that another doctor is available sooner than the doctor named on their referral and with the patient’s consent, they can elect to change doctors, and the named referral is still valid. What If I Don’t Know Which Specialist is Best? It is not always easily apparent in the community to identify which specialists work in the outpatient clinics or what their subspeciality or area of interest may be. E-referrals (mandatory in NSLHD) list all
specialists, easing selection. NSLHD also has a service directory which may be helpful. If unsure, use the “No preference” option—this still counts as a named referral and lets the department allocate the best-fit clinician. Is it ‘Double Dipping’? No. Funding streams (public vs private) are separate. Hospital policies and NHRA rules prevent misuse of referrals for financial gain. Do We Have a Choice? Yes. GPs choose how to refer. Once again, there are Hospital policies and NHRA clauses that clearly state that named referrals should not be required. Understanding the benefits of named referrals—like improved patient access and efficient care, and sustainable use of hospital resources—may support their use when appropriate. How Can I Easily Change a Referral? If a patient elects private treatment but has an unnamed referral, you may be asked to resend a named one. The use of the e-referral system aims to make this more convenient by allowing ability to add information directly from the patient’s clinical record. What Do My Patients Know? Before their first appointment, all patients must sign an Informed Financial Consent Election Form to confirm whether they wish to be treated as public or private—regardless of the referral type. There is a form for no out-of-pocket expenses and explains the charge is to Medicare Australia not using their private health insurance.
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GPLink | October 2025
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