Do I need a referral to see a podiatrist in Queensland?

 Foot conditions like heel pain, plantar fasciitis or fungal toenails are common in adults. Therefore, a periodic visit to a Foot Fungus Clinic is essential to ensure optimum levels of health for your lower extremities.

Whether it’s a usual discomfort or a debilitating chronic pain due to an ankle fracture, an appointment with your podiatrist is what you need. However, when it comes to seeing a doctor, most people only go to a physician. They don’t even know who a podiatrist is, what type of services they offer and if a referral is needed to see one in Queensland.

Today’s post is focused on the specialty of a podiatrist and what to expect when you consider claiming insurance cover to see a specialist.

Who is a podiatrist and what do they treat?

A podiatrist is also known as a toe doctor, a foot doctor or you can call them the specialists of lower limbs. They are board-certified doctors who study medicine and specialise in the diagnosis and treatment of abnormalities in the lower extremities.

You might want to see a podiatrist on the Sunshine Coast or Queensland, if you feel any kind of discomfort around your toenails, heels, or ankle region. These are the specialists of lower limbs so patients of all groups can attain the benefits of their expertise. From your diabetic father to your child who is pigeon toeing, all can go to the podiatrist for appropriate care and treatment.

Apart from diabetic foot care and children’s podiatry, these experts can provide the ultimate solution to sports related injuries. Athletes periodically go to a podiatrist to enhance their performance and reduce the risk of sports related injuries or stress fractures.

Moreover, if someone is struggling with foot deformities or always feels pain due to their flat feet, they can consult a podiatrist for a suitable treatment. The usual treatment choices offered by a podiatrist are medications, massage and exercise therapies, footwear and orthotics as well as surgeries and laser treatments. You can find a podiatrist near you to get rid of the stubborn toenail fungus with the gold standard of treatment called low-level laser therapy.

To put it simply, a podiatrist conducts a thorough biomechanical assessment to understand the problem areas around your lower limb. They may use the latest medical imaging and scanning technology to diagnose the problem and help you overcome the pain or discomfort with the best suited sore feet treatment.

Do you need a referral to see a podiatrist in Queensland?

You don’t need a referral to get the best sore heel treatment from a podiatrist in Queensland. Simply call the podiatrist’s office and make an appointment.

However, if you are planning to cover the podiatrist’s appointment under insurance benefit schemes then you will need a referral from a licensed doctor or allied healthcare professional.

Can you claim your podiatrist appointment on insurance schemes?

Most podiatrists consider insurance claims such as work cover on an individual basis. It is best to seek advice from the podiatrist about your coverage. However, if you seek coverage by immediate private health rebates then you can consider getting it via HICAPS. It is a popular health claim and payment system used by Queensland citizens to get immediate claim processing. There are multiple levels of health covers in HICAPS and if podiatry is not included in your cover, consider upgrading your package before seeing a podiatrist.

Besides, WorkCover or Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) covers are considered on an individual basis. Consult with the podiatrist to understand if your foot condition falls under the cover or not. They will be happy to give you a quote or an estimate over the phone.

DVA cover on podiatry services in Queensland

DVA or the Department of Veteran Affairs provides a Repatriation Health Card. Under this scheme, you can either get a Gold Card (all conditions) or a White Card (specific conditions). These cards allow you to access podiatry services at no cost.

Although, you will need a GP referral to claim podiatry services under the DVA scheme. Annual renewal of your GP referral provides you with no-cost access to a range of podiatry services such as biomechanical evaluation, footwear prescription, routine maintenance and physical therapy.

Which podiatry services are covered under Medicare?

You will need a referral from an allied healthcare professional to claim Medicare for podiatry services. A range of conditions can be treated by your foot doctor under insurance claims. Get a referral from your GP to get your condition covered under EPC (Enhanced Primary Care) or Complex Disease Management Plan (CDMP).

Based on Medicare coverage, you can save up to 87% of the podiatrist’s consultation fee. However, keep in mind that under the CDMP scheme, you can only claim a Medicare rebate on podiatry services if your GP is assisting you in the management of chronic medical conditions such as asthma, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease or mental health illness.

Conclusion

You can consult a podiatrist for a range of foot related conditions without a referral. However, if you want to cut costs and save money on podiatry bills then you may consider a range of health cover schemes such as Medicare, HICAPS, DVA etc. To get access to no-cost or low-cost podiatry services via these health covers, you will require a referral from a licensed healthcare professional.

Suncoast Podiatry is the most recognised foot and nail clinic that welcomes claims from a range of health cover schemes. Providing foot, ankle, knee and lower back pain solutions since 2000, the renowned clinic is operating from multiple locations in Queensland, such as Noosa, Bli Bli, Cooroy and Gympie. Get a referral from your GP and visit Suncoast Podiatry to get the most affordable sore feet treatment.