What is bulk billed telehealth?
Bulk billing means your GP consultation is paid for entirely by Medicare, with no out-of-pocket cost to you. At NewDoc, eligible patients can access a full GP telehealth consultation, including prescriptions, medical certificates, specialist referrals, and pathology requests, at no charge.
Telehealth consultations are conducted by video or phone call with an AHPRA-registered General Practitioner. The clinical standard is the same as an in-person GP visit. Your doctor can assess your symptoms, provide medical advice, prescribe medication, issue certificates, and arrange referrals, all from your home, workplace, or anywhere in Australia.
What is included in a bulk billed consult?
Every NewDoc bulk billed consultation includes access to the full range of GP services available via telehealth. There are no add-on fees or surcharges. Specifically, a single consultation can cover any combination of repeat or new prescriptions sent as eScripts to your phone, medical certificates for work, school, or university emailed directly to you, specialist referrals for further care, pathology referrals for blood tests and other lab work, imaging referrals for X-rays, ultrasounds, and scans, mental health assessments and support, and sexual health consultations.
Some telehealth providers in Australia charge extra for certificates, scripts, or referrals on top of the consultation fee. NewDoc includes all of these as part of the consultation.
Who is eligible for bulk billing?
To access bulk billed telehealth through NewDoc, you need a valid Medicare card and must be located in an eligible area under current Medicare telehealth provisions. The eligibility check happens during the booking process, so you will know before your appointment whether your consultation will be bulk billed. Most of Australia is covered under the current provisions. If you are not eligible for bulk billing, a private consultation fee applies.
How NewDoc compares
NewDoc uses exclusively qualified General Practitioners with FRACGP fellowship for all consultations. Many other telehealth providers use a mix of GPs and nurse practitioners. While nurse practitioners provide valuable care, GPs have completed additional years of specialist training in general practice and have broader clinical scope, particularly for complex prescribing and referral decisions.
NewDoc also does not charge extra for any service delivered during the consultation. If your GP issues a script, a certificate, and a referral in the same appointment, all three are included at no additional cost to you.
What to expect during your consultation
When you book a bulk billed telehealth appointment with NewDoc, you will first complete a short health questionnaire so your GP has context before the call. It helps to have your Medicare card, a list of any current medications, and a brief summary of your symptoms ready before the consultation begins. This allows your online doctor to make the most of your time together.
You can choose between a video call or a phone consultation depending on your preference and clinical needs. Most Medicare telehealth appointments typically take around 10 to 15 minutes, though your GP may spend longer if the situation requires it. A quiet, private space with a stable internet or phone connection will help ensure a smooth experience.
During the appointment, your GP can assess symptoms, provide medical advice, send an eScript directly to your phone, issue a medical certificate, arrange a specialist referral, or order blood tests and imaging. If your concern requires a physical examination or in-person care, your GP will let you know and can help coordinate next steps.
How to book
Booking takes under two minutes. Visit the NewDoc website or app, complete a brief health questionnaire, and select an available appointment time. Same-day GP appointments are available seven days a week. Your GP will contact you at your scheduled time via video or phone.
Conditions commonly managed via telehealth
Many common health concerns can be effectively assessed and managed through a telehealth GP consultation. Presentations that are generally well suited to an online doctor appointment include respiratory and urinary tract infections, skin conditions such as rashes or acne, mental health concerns including anxiety and low mood, ongoing chronic disease management, and sexual health consultations. Your GP can also issue repeat or new prescriptions, referrals, and medical certificates during a single bulk billed telehealth visit.
Telehealth is not appropriate for all situations. If you are experiencing a medical emergency, chest pain, difficulty breathing, or severe injury, please call 000 or visit your nearest emergency department. You can check current emergency department wait times on our site. Conditions that require a hands-on physical examination, such as abdominal palpation or joint assessment, may also need an in-person visit. Your telehealth GP can help determine whether a face-to-face appointment is needed.