Frequently Asked Questions
- Will I receive an account?
- If I am privately billed what out of pocket expenses will I incur?
- Does Medicare rebate all Pathology tests?
- If I am a hospital in-patient will I receive an account?
- What is Warfarin?
- Why am I taking Warfarin?
- What are the types of drugs, sizes and brands?
- What happens when I commence Warfarin?
- What does INR mean?
- What happens now?
- What can affect my Warfarin levels?
- What are the possible side effects of Warfarin?
- What if I miss a dose of Warfarin?
- What should I do if I am pregnant?
- What if I need surgery or dental work?
- What happens when I go on holidays?
- Warfarin dosage by SMS - What happens if I do not reply?
- Warfarin dosage by SMS - What happens if the result is abnormal?
- Warfarin dosage by SMS - What if I want to speak to the staff members at Dorevitch Pathology's Warfarin Department?
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Q: Will I receive an account?
A: If you are a Pensioner or the holder of a current Health Care Card you are eligible to be bulk billed. If you are bulk billed you will not receive an account from Dorevitch Pathology for Medicare rebated tests. Your account will be billed directly to Medicare. If you are the holder of a Veteran Affairs Gold card your account will be billed directly to the Department of Veteran Affairs.
If your pathology request relates to a WorkCover or Transport Accident Commission claim, a pre-employment or insurance medicals your account will be sent directly to those organisations.
If you do not hold the concession cards mentioned you will be privately billed. If you are privately billed you will receive an account. -
Q: If I am privately billed what out of pocket expenses will I incur?
A: Private account charges for pathology are based on the Australian Medical Association rates. This means the fee includes the Medicare rebate amount plus a gap payment incurred as out of pocket expenses.
Dorevitch Pathology has a gap protection policy, which means after claiming from Medicare the maximum out of pocket expense will be no more than $195.00 per referral, for Medicare rebated tests performed by Dorevitch Pathology. -
Q: Does Medicare rebate all Pathology tests?
A: No, some tests are not eligible for a Medicare rebate. These include:
Thinprep, Papnet, FISH, Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring, and HPV.
If you are having one of these tests and would like to know the out of pocket expenses, the Accounts Department will be able to advise you of the associated costs. Please phone (03) 9244 0400.
For details on how to pay your accounts please refer to the information provided on the back of your invoice.
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Q: If I am a hospital in-patient will I receive an account?
A: Hospital In-patient Pathology Billing Dorevitch Pathology
This information is to outline the in-patient hospital billing process through Dorevitch Pathology and should answer most of your questions. Should you have any further queries, please contact our Accounts Department on (03) 9244 0400.
Patients with Private Health Insurance
We have agreements with a number of private health funds including:
- HBA
- MBF
- Australian Health Service Alliance Funds
- HCF
These agreements allow for those health funds to be billed directly for your pathology services whilst you are a private patient in a public or private hospital. You will not receive an account from Dorevitch Pathology and you will not incur out of pocket expenses for Medicare rebated tests performed by Dorevitch Pathology.
If you have private health insurance, but are not a member of any of the health funds listed above, you will receive an account. We have a gap protection policy that applies for your entire period of hospitalisation. After claiming from Medicare and your health fund the maximum out of pocket expense will be $500.00. This applies to tests performed by Dorevitch Pathology.
Pension and Health Care Card holders with Private Insurance
If you are a current Pension Card or Health Care Cardholder and have private health insurance with a group other than those mentioned above, you will receive an account for pathology tests performed by Dorevitch Pathology whilst a hospital inpatient. Fees will be charged at the Medicare Schedule Fee and will be fully reimbursed by claiming through Medicare and your private health fund. You will not incur out of pocket expenses for Medicare rebated tests.
Patients without Private Health Insurance
If you are a patient without private health insurance and are not the holder of a Pension or current Health Care Card you will receive an account. You will be able to claim 75% of the scheduled fee through Medicare. You will be required to pay the balance.
Pension and Health Care Card holders without Private Health Insurance
If you are the holder of a Pension card or Current Health Care card and do not have private health insurance you will receive an account charged at the Medicare Schedule Fee. Of the fee, 75% will be reimbursed through Medicare and you will be required to pay the balance.
Veteran Affairs Gold Card holders
If you are the holder of a Veteran Affairs Gold card your account will be billed directly to the Department of Veteran Affairs for payment. You will not incur out of pocket expenses.
WorkCover and TAC claims
If your pathology relates to a WorkCover or Transport Accident Commission claim, your account will be sent directly to those organisations. -
Q: What is Warfarin?
A: Warfarin is an anticoagulant drug that reduces the ability of blood to clot. The aim of Warfarin treatment is to prevent thrombosis (formation of a blood clot).
You should be well informed about your treatment including why you are on it, the possible side effects and what can cause your blood levels to go up or down. Your doctor will be able to assist you with any questions you may have. -
Q: Why am I taking Warfarin?
A: Your doctor has prescribed Warfarin for one of the following conditions:
- Blood clots in the limbs, Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
- Blood clots in the lung, Pulmonary Embolus (PE)
- Blood clots in the heart
- After surgery to prevent clots
- Heart rhythm irregularity such as atrial fibrillation
- At risk or recovering from stroke
- At risk or recovering from heart attack
- Heart valve replacement or repair (Aortic and Mitral Valves)
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Q: What are the types of drugs, sizes and brands?
A: Warfarin is the most commonly used oral anticoagulant. It is taken once a day. There are two brands of Warfarin: Marevan and Coumadin. A less common drug is Dindevan, which is taken twice daily.
Warfarin is available in 1, 3 and 5mg tablets (Marevan) or 1, 2 and 5mg (Coumadin). You should ask your doctor for a supply of the different strength tablets. Each strength tablet is a different colour. Tablets can be broken in half to obtain the required dose, for example a dose of 2.5mg can be achieved by breaking a 5mg tablet in half or by taking a 2mg tablet plus half a 1mg tablet. -
Q: What happens when I commence Warfarin?
A: Blood tests are required to manage your blood levels and adjust dosage. At first blood tests will be done every day or two. Eventually when the blood level is stable tests should become monthly.
Should you no longer require Warfarin your doctor will inform you when and how to stop treatment. -
Q: What does INR mean?
A: You may hear your Warfarin treatment result referred to as an INR (International Normalised Ratio). This is the name of the laboratory blood test. Your required INR level will be determined by your doctor and it will be somewhere between 1.5 and 4.0. -
Q: What happens now?
A: It is important that you
- Take the exact dose prescribed
- Take your dose at approximately the same time each day, usually in the evening
- Take the same brand of Warfarin
- Have your blood test in the morning. This gives the laboratory enough time to make results available on the same day.
- Inform your doctor and laboratory of any changes in your health, medication, lifestyle, sickness, dental procedures or hospitalisation.
- Listen very carefully when you are told what dose to take. If you are not certain - ASK.
- Have the blood test when it is due and do not delay it.
Communication and cooperation are vital for good management.
At each visit for your Warfarin testing you will be asked the following questions:
Please answer each question carefully and accurately.
1. What is your current dosage?
2. Have you missed any recent doses?
3. Has there been any alteration in dosage?
4. Have you started or ceased any medications, particularly antibiotics?
5. Have you any bleeding or bruising?
6. Have you had any recent medical problems?
If you think of anything else that may be important - tell the collector. -
Q: What can affect my Warfarin levels?
A: Many things can effect your Warfarin levels and they include:
- Starting certain new medication or stopping old ones (see below)
- Sickness especially if not eating for a few days
- Alcohol
- Changes in diet
- Changes in exercise levels
- Significant weight loss or gain
- Fever/infections
Maintaining a steady state of food, alcohol and exercise helps to stabilise the Warfarin control.
If you begin any new medications you should inform the doctor adjusting your Warfarin dose. It may be necessary for extra blood tests and/or a change in the Warfarin dose.
Medications that most commonly cause problems:- Antibiotics
- Anticonvulsants
- Heart rhythm drugs namely Amiodrone, Cordorone, Aratac
- Chemotherapy
- Treatment for Peptic Ulcer
- Treatment for Cholesterol
- Some herbal supplements
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Q: What are the possible side effects of Warfarin?
A: The most common side effect of Warfarin is bleeding. Inform your doctor immediately if you are bleeding or think you may be bleeding internally.
Other uncommon side effects include skin rashes, jaundice, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea and hair loss.
Activities to avoid while taking Warfarin include contact sports like football and boxing and those with potential for traumatic injury. -
Q: What if I miss a dose of Warfarin?
A: If you remember within 3-4 hours, then take the dose on the same day. If you are unsure or remember after this time, then take your normal dose on the following day. Do not take a double dose in order to make up for a missed dose. -
Q: What should I do if I am pregnant?
A: The use of Warfarin in pregnancy is to be avoided. If you are on Warfarin and planning to become pregnant you must discuss this with your doctor. Warfarin can cause abnormality in the baby if taken early in pregnancy and alternative therapy is required. -
Q: What if I need surgery or dental work?
A: It is most important that you tell the person doing the surgery or dental work that you are on Warfarin. The doctor looking after your Warfarin should be told about the procedure before it is done. Your doctor or dentist will tell you whether the Warfarin dose needs to be stopped or changed. -
Q: What happens when I go on holidays?
A: For Warfarin patients going on holidays we offer a holiday letter which can be mailed or faxed to patients directly or delivered/faxed to a collection centre convenient to the patient.
If the patient is travelling around we can still continue dosing the patient.. Our preferred Pathology services - Dorevitch Pathology in Victoria, QML in Queensland and the Northern Territory, Western Diagnostics in Western Australia and the Northern Territory, Laverty Pathology in New South Wales.
After having your blood test ask the Pathology Service to fax the result to Dorevitch Pathology in Victoria on (03) 92440365 and then call the Coagulation Department at Dorevitch Pathology on (03) 92440299 later in the day to receive your dose and next visit date. -
Q: Warfarin dosage by SMS - What happens if I do not reply?
A: If you do not reply to the SMS, a staff member from Dorevitch Pathology will call you the next day to confirm you have received the message. However, in order to make this an efficient and effective service it is preferred that you confirm immediately by sending a reply to the SMS. -
Q: Warfarin dosage by SMS - What happens if the result is abnormal?
A: If the result is abnormal or poses a serious risk to your health, we will NOT send your dosage via SMS. In this case one of the staff members from the Dorevitch Pathology Warfarin Team will call you personally. -
Q: Warfarin dosage by SMS - What if I want to speak to the staff members at Dorevitch Pathology's Warfarin Department?
A: If you select to receive your dosage requirements via an SMS message you will no longer receive a personal phone call from the Dorevitch Warfarin Department, unless the result is abnormal. If you need to contact the Warfarin Team for an alternate reason please phone (03) 9244 0299
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