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$10 On-Demand GP Telehealth Consultation @ Hola Health via Healthengine

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Healthengine has partnered with Hola Health to provide a special offer to OzBargain members: $10 on-demand telehealth consultations^ with an Australian-qualified GP, suitable when you need help with a diagnosis, medical certificate, prescription, or referral.

As people face longer wait times and higher out-of-pocket costs to see a GP, telehealth is an option to receive timely care that's convenient and available when you need it. With its commitment to help people navigate the complex world of healthcare, Healthengine is making telehealth more accessible through this special offer exclusively for OzBargain members like you.

Once your appointment with Hola Health is booked and paid for on the Healthengine website, you will be provided a link to join a virtual waiting room (average wait time under 15 minutes) before connecting with the next available doctor via video. No downloads or software needed.

^ T&Cs apply. Offer is available for the first 6,000 in-hours on-demand consultations booked during the promotional period between 6:00 am and 8:00 pm AEDT on Monday, 27 March 2023 through to Friday, 31 March 2023. The appointment is up to 8 minutes in duration and will take place at the time of booking and cannot be scheduled for any other time. Not valid with any other offer. This is a privately billed service. Medicare rebates not available. Appointments booked outside of the offer period will be charged at the standard rate.

Controlled drugs (including Schedule 4D and Schedule 8 medications), other drugs of addiction, and COVID-19 antivirals will not be prescribed by this telehealth service. Refusal of prescription requests for these types of medications will not result in a refund of your telehealth consultation.

This telehealth service is not a substitution for continuity of care via your regular GP or any forms of emergency care. Please dial 000 or go to the nearest hospital emergency department if you have chest pains, uncontrolled bleeding, poisoning, constant vomiting, serious breathing problems, or anything else you deem as life- or limb-threatening.

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closed Comments

  • +11

    Everything is good except 8 minutes to explain your problem and get the resolution seems weird.

    • We just got an e-prescription for a dose of antibiotic after a 3-minuten consult.
      Not sure whether it is a same service though. We booked via a local medical centre. They have no onsite doctor on Sunday, thus "telehealth".

      • +8

        There is no way that a practitioner can assess that that is appropriate for you in 3 minutes in 99.9% of casees unless you have had a prior consult.

    • +10

      OK for repeat prescription for birth control pills.
      Doc: hello what can I do for you today
      Patient: Giggity
      Doc: OK I'll prescribe you pills. Would you like a 2 weeks off work letter for an extra 50 cents?
      Patient: giggity
      Doc: righto, that's $10.50

  • +14

    I'm not at all a fan of these types of services. But
    8 minute consults? How is that supposed to be safe? Also the description says that you can use the service for prescriptions, then in the conditions it says no S4 or s8 meds. I assume you mean s4d?

    • +13

      Agreed. Telehealth is supposed to be an adjunct for your usual gp not as a replacement for face to face consultation. There's supposed to be an ability for the doctor to call you in for an examination if required. Not to mention what can a doctor seriously do in 8 minutes that isn't a paperpushing sausage factory medicine. The fact even medicare refuses to fund this model should give you an idea that this sort of thing skirts a very very fine line. This sort of thing is a disaster waiting to happen. There's been a fair few medicolegal incidents from this model of care as well.

      This sort of model relies on the fact that many people don't realise just how limiting a telehealth only service is, and how little that is actually of importance can be done in 8 minutes.

      • +4

        Medicare does support this model of care… with a practice in which they have had a face to face appointment in the last year.

        • Correct, in an appropriate setting telehealth is a fanatic idea. However these telehealth only once off appointments with no ability for escalation to face to face review are not supported or in agreement with guidelines from various governing bodies. The fact that Medicare doesn't fund these should be a red flag.

    • Standard consults are generally in 15min blocks - Telehealth would remove the need for physical examination (e.g. blood pressure check), as well the pleasantries…. 8 min is probably pretty reasonable. Heck, I've been involved in around 8 Telehealth appointments, the shortest was under a min and the longest 5min.

      Telehealth is generally a supplement for your physical examinations - @ $10, this is 100% a bargain.

      • +1

        The consult should also include a taking a thorough medical history given that they arent the patients usual GP. Including their past medical history, medication history, family history etc. Cant be done in 8 minutes

        • You feel 7 minutes extra is all that is required for exceptional care - LOL

          And if that is the case, book a double consult ($20 is still a bargain).

          Edit, and in closing - this is ozbargain, which is to judge the price of a product/service. not what you personally feel is a good service.

          I have used these services to great benefit to me… and I'm sure others have to - not sure why you are so salty,

        • +1

          These website things usually include a form where all those questions are already asked before wasting the doctors time.

      • That's the thing, these are 8 minute consultations for new patients who are unknown to the gp. If you can see a new gp for an issue, have a history, plan formulated, and explained to you in 8 minutes either it was a super simple issue or converts were cut. If it's a followup that might be more reasonable, but again 8 minutes is very much pushing things. Potentially if you were super organised, spoke in dotpoints, knew exactly the right information that was required, and it was a simple issue it could be done, but this would be in the minority.

        And telehealth doesn't remove the need for a physical exam and magically make the consultation faster, it just means you need to compensate by being more cautious and work out ways around it.

        • No, these consults can be used to supplement you normal health care… ie. in times of need - I've used these services to compliment my own care to great effect.

        • Your only new once.

          People in capital cities are fine, they can find a bulk-billing Dr HowLong. Those of us outside, it cost $50 to see a doc, that's if you can find one.

          The real solution is to have the ability for GP's to be able to have a bulk billing nurse on staff to help sort out minor issues, issue ongoing scripts, deal with wounds, etc.

          This service would be handy for getting some specialist referrals.

        • Depends what the issue is. These places are not a substitute for a GP at all, but have their place for minor issues or when you need a box ticked.

          Employer has a stupid policy that you need a medical certificate for sick leave? Easy way to get a cert.
          Tested positive for COVID and need to get antivirals? It's effectively an eligibility checklist - get your script over the phone. (I have no idea why this mob would make that an exclusion??? That's easy money and very low risk if you're following the guidelines).

        • +1

          8 minutes is more than enough time for "my script for X expired, it gives me no side effects, it is working, I have not started any new medications, existing medications are A B C".

          It is BS having to sit in a waiting room for 2 hours for that and Medicare is being bled dry by millions of those consultations a year.

    • -1

      That's cos certain schedule scripts can't be given without a extended consult length, and thus, Medicare requires a longer duration appointment

      These guys are basically just billing code 91891 with a $10 gap. That's a gross of $400-500/per hour LOLs - wonder what Healthengine's cut is

      • +3

        They aren't billing any Medicare code - these services are non-rebatable. Only a patients usual GP (who has seen them in the past 12 months) can bill MBS item numbers for telehealth

        There's no official minimum time required to be allowed to write any scripts. But it's definitely a bad look.

        • +1

          I'm an idiot, I made a fat assumption that this was only eligible to healthengine account holders who had seen their same GP in the past 12 months

          I didn't think there was a minimum duration for scripts, but instead I thought there's a minimum length history that needs to be covered for some scripts - a history that can't be reasonably taken in a short duration consult of 6-8mins

          • @fleetfeather: This is fine for some appointments, and useless for others.

            Eg, i went to a physio who referred me for ultrasound + steroid injection if indicated. That would have cost $330 at one place … or, if i had a gp referral, $200. Or, free (bulk billed) at Lumus imaging with a gp, and wouldnt do it without gp referral (somewhere else was $240 with physio referral, $200 with gp referral).

            I chose the bulk bill ultrasound provider, so had a gp appointment for them to copy the physio referral and sign it. That is utterly perfect for telehealth.

            Hi doc, i have a pain in X area, because I did Y. I've seen physio z times, and he has diagnosed abc. Hes referred me for D - here is the referral - but my preferred provider needs a gp referral. Can you please give me one? Thanks.

            Less than 8 minutes, no dramas

            • +1

              @ricee007: Point taken, but that's not really medicine though you're asking or expecting in the telehealth, you're literally just asking for a form to be copied. Ideally you would have contacted the original gp for a referral and they would have just done it or done a brief th themselves. To be honest your gp probably shouldn't even be claiming a standard complexity consult for that one.

              While yes, that's a good use for this service, they're advertising a medical consult service capable of diagnosis and prescribing, not just a form copying service.

    • +1

      Depends what it is for. Plenty of scripts are just unnecessary government gatekeeping and the script is automatic after an evaluation that there is no contradictory medication or history. Something which can literally be done by an automated form.

      Any complex symptoms are just going to tell people a hands on checkup is needed.

      Government needs to overhaul the script system for all the simple medications which only have scripts for basic "don't take X at the same time as Y" reasons.

  • Why would anyone go for this when we have bulkbill GPs?

    • +5

      Sounds like pants are optional.

    • +13

      No bulk-billing GP's within 50k's of me. Those that do have a very long waitlist.

      • +2

        Yet this is still not an alternative… sounds like they are a medical certificate service rather than actually helping with any chronic disease

    • +7

      Hard to get into bulk billed GPs these days.

      • -2

        So they are just milking on our poor healthcare system. Noted.

        • +1

          Pay more tax to fund the public healthcare system and you can have more bulk billing GPs

          • +1

            @fleetfeather: Sadly, more tax = more money to Subs (and $0 to extra healthcare).

            • @dangerdanger: Put the RACGP lobbying group in the ocean - they're more lethal and have a longer runtime than the subs

              • @fleetfeather: Nah, they're useless and toothless. The Libs / ALP just brush them off every time and refuse to budge on Medicare rebates

    • +10

      Based on changes to payroll tax interpretation the number of bulk-billing practices is about to decline further. The viability of practices has not helped by the medicare rebate freeze.

      • +5

        So what is Labour doing about it. Australia got no money in the bank to for healthcare after overspending on useless subs.

        • +8

          Honestly the NDIS probably needs to be scaled back more than anything. It's going to outstrip the cost of medicare in a year or two, and is already costing the government 5 times or so the cost of every GP in Australia already.

          • +4

            @Ezuku: The problem with NDIS is that too many people are on the gravy train.

        • +7

          Proper remuneration of primary health care (e.g. GPs) is likely to save the healthcare system money because early intervention can prevent conditions worsening. Instead we have patients ending up in crowded emergency wards and medical students choosing any career path but General Practice. Unfortunately this is difficult to track when compared with number of surgeries performed.

          As for Labor, I'd like an explanation of how a $120m new home for ambos will solve the problem of hospitals being unable to discharge patients because of a lack of suitable lower dependency accommodation. Solve this and beds will be freed up for patients in emergency. More publicity should be given to number of patients in hospital who are ready to be discharged.

          • +1

            @mathew42: It is much easier to get funding for a short term project approved than change funding for Medicare or Public Hospitals. So we get a new building instead of more funding.

            • +1

              @greatlamp: The $120m new home for ambos was a promise in return for the union running a campaign focusing on ramping during the last election. Twelve months later ramping is worse than ever.

              If the $120m was spent on providing accommodation services, instead of an office tower for public servants that would have an impact on ramping.

    • +6

      $10 so I don't have to sit in the waiting room with half broken furniture with other patients who may make me sick with something else, only to wait 45 minutes past my scheduled time cos the doctor was inevitably late

    • +2

      Bulk billing GP are a dying breed unfortunately.

    • +2

      Unfortunately they are heading for extinction :(

    • +1

      Save on petrol + travel time. And dont need to be in same waiting room as sick people.

    • My gp doesn't bulk bill.

    • +1

      They have become rare and waiting times can be in the hours, sitting in a room with people coughing.

      It's all stupid when all you want is a prescription renewed and they are only going to ask "having any side effects? What other medications are you taking?"

      Stuff pharmacists should be able to do, the whole script system is broken.

  • GP land be wild

  • What is the regular price?

    • In hours on demand consult
      $39.99

      Id probably pay $10 in cases were I physically can’t get to a doctor, but never $40

      • Lol. This is where the problem lies.

  • +3

    Slippery slope here guys. Hmmm…

  • +1

    What if I am not sick tomorrow? Can I buy a few of these and bank them? Targeted: at sick people

  • +4

    I wouldn’t go near Healthengine with any of my personal information.

    • +1

      When that hit I had a fun week removing Healthengine from 300 practices. Hotdoc gained a lot of new practices then.

  • +12

    Health engine and these services are unaustralian.
    McDonaldization of medicine and fined $3 million (as if thats anything against $42 million revenue) for selling personal information to insurance brokers.

    Additionally, doesnt believe in free speech and edited/removed 20,000 negative reviews (https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/healthengine-to-pay-29…).

    • +2

      Agreed, these clowns shouldn't be allowed to operate at all.

  • +1

    Hello? Is that you Dr.Google?

    • +1

      Dr chatgp.

    • You'll need one when you crash your escooter.

  • +1

    This would be great for rural places, places with no bulk billing gp and anywhere that would cost a fair bit in fuel to drive in to see a gp.

    Whilst 8 minutes is short some gps offer standard consults of 10 minutes in other countries and when offered for only $10 its not bad.

  • health engine iss fkn itshay

  • +4

    How long before there's a ChatGP?

  • +5

    This is surely aimed at people needing sick certificates. I used this once, went like this:
    Dr: "What seems to be the problem?"
    Me: "I need a sick certificate for my work"
    Dr: "How long for?"
    Me: "Two days"
    Dr: "I'll email it to you in the next 5 minutes".
    Call ended. A total of 35 seconds.

  • +2

    My wife can tell in less than 1 minute that often I suffer from erectile dysfunction. Therefore, 8 minutes should be more than ample time for a GP to perform an accurate diagnosis and provide me with a solution.

    • +1

      She's a keeper. You still married.

  • +6

    8 min maximum for a consultation - can’t provide genuine good care with that amount of time unless you are just after a certificate for a mild cold or something or a prescription you are regularly taking and stable on.

  • +3

    People just need to pay more for their healthcare, because our ALP / LIb / other govt have no intention to increase medicare rebates. Healthcare is expensive. Most people demand a pay rise for themselves, but baulk at GPs requesting pay parity (when they've had no pay rise via Medicare for 10 yrs).

    Healthengine will bury any hope of equitable healthcare for Aussies, and sell your data while they're at it.

  • Can they prescribe medical marijuana? Let's just say I have anxiety.

    • No they won't

  • Can they prescribe voluntary assisted dying?

    • Probably not, won't even give you weed.

  • -1

    Can I bulkbill this with Medicare?

  • I'm probably not interested in using it, but what is the interface? Video and voice, so you need to do it on a phone's tiny little screen, or a PC with a camera and mic. Or just text.

  • Can health engine confirm they use, properly qualified GPS, with FRACGP post graduate degree, that they can give patients Medicare rebates. Not a random junior doctor with only a basic medical degree with no access to Medicare rebates.

    Also note, how they got fined - https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/healthengine-to-pay-29…

    • +1

      Unlikely, however note that a FRACGP would not be able to give you Medicare Rebates via this model unless you had been to their practice in the past 12 months.

  • +1

    In QLD, there's a bulk billing service where the doctors actually visit you, called "House Call Doctor".

    https://housecalldoctor.com.au/

    Note that this service is intended for after business hours during weekdays, after 12 PM on Saturdays and all day during Sunday. I have used this service a few times in the past. Very helpful doctors, they were able to assess me, provide scripts and provide pathology request forms. Would recommend using them if you are not able to see your own doctor/GP in a timely manner. Though recently, they have been flat out like a lizard drinking. But give them a try if needs be. Worst thing that could happen is you might get referred to telehealth service if you are not able to book a visiting doctor/GP.

    • Locums are great for kids and elderly that have hurt themselves or have a fever, but wouldn't be seeing them for anything important.

  • Thanks op, I often use these types of services for prescription repeats, so much easier and cheaper than visiting my GP who is never free when it’s convenient, never on time, and charges $85 up front for the “service” of printing a prescription

  • Bring back old logo

    This new one is too harsh on eyes

  • +3

    The reduction of healthcare to a bare bones, race-to-the-bottom-quality isn't something to be encouraged in Australia. I understand that for some people, this is the only option available, and on an individual level this can be convenient and attractive. But like the saying goes, if the service is free (or in this case, absurdly cheap), then you are the product. We need to abolish the Medicare rebate freeze, support GPs, and better integrate telehealth services, not have 3rd party actors trying to cash in on the gaps of a health system that is struggling to keep up with the times.

  • Selling personal health data, review manipulation, and 5 minute medicine is not a deal

  • These are junior doctors, not doctors who have got specialist GP qualification, FRACGP. Most privately charging GPs are Fracgp qualified and have done Australian GP training on the top of basic medical degree. So you get what you pay for. https://www.racgp.org.au/education/gp-training/explore-a-gp-…

    • +1

      Can they write me a new prescription for one of my usuals, without me having to pay $40 to go to a proper GP? Then cool, they have their place. I'll see my regular GP when I have an actual issue that requires their expertise.

  • They issued a throughly wrong prescription and when I noticed it said I'd waited too long and refused to reissue without another appt.

    I told them to take a hike.

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