As a public health service, the Royal Melbourne Hospital provides free care and hospital services to public patients who are enrolled in Medicare.
Medicare can cover hospital services such as:
- emergency care in our Emergency Department
- admitted services as a public patient
- non-admitted services to our specialist clinics (outpatients)
Admitted patients
An admitted patient is:
- someone who goes through the hospital admission process to receive care
- a patient whose entire care is not provided within the ED and who meets at least one of the criteria for admission
Patients can be considered 'admitted' in settings other than the hospital, such as those in the RMH@Home program.
ED patients are considered non-admitted unless they are admitted for ongoing care.
Services not included in Medicare
Non-admitted patients may be charged fees or co-payments for:
- consultation appointments
- dental services
- spectacles or hearing aids
- some prostheses
- aids, appliances and home modifications
- medication
Medication and pharmacy costs
There may also be pharmacy costs or co-payments involved for admitted patients, particularly for take-home medications.
Public versus private patients
As a public patient, you do not get to choose your doctor.
If you choose to be admitted as a private patient, you can choose your doctor.
Wait times for hospital services
Access to hospital services is based on clinical need and urgency.
This means that, regardless of whether you are a public or private patient, there may be a waiting list for planned (elective) surgeries or procedures.
Being admitted as a private patient does not speed up wait times. In rare cases, your procedure may be delayed so we can provide emergency and trauma care to those who need it.