Amnio in a public hospital?

[TheMunchies]

Hello Ladies & Gents,
We need an amnio for our second child (as we did for our first, and he was just fine!). The only hiccup is that the doctor who performs them here in Wollongong is on holidays when we need to have it done, and we've been referred to a doctor at a private hospital to the tune of $300 for the amnio plus $600 pathology!!
Does anyone know of being referred to another public hospital outside of your area and claiming on Medicare?
Unfortunately our doctor has not been very helpful!
Of course our child's health and well being is the most important things, but we're wondering if anyone knows of any other option for us before we take our appointment at the private hospital.
Kind regards,
The Munchies

[diannescruffy]

Hi,
My GP reffered me to a public hospital for my amnio and medicare covered everything including genetic counselling. I would certainly go back to your GP and ask for another referral to a public hospital.
Regards,
Dianne

[satya]

I was never given the option to do it in a public hospital. Because of the time sensitivity of this test you have to get booked pretty early and I was given 3 options of private practices to get it done.

[ezymay]

I am a private patient but our ob sent me to have it done at the public hospital in the fetal maternal unit at South West Sydney (Liverpool) hospital because they deal with such high risk mothers all the time they are very experienced. The doctor acutally travels to other hosps to do them. Being in the gong it would be a day trip for you guys to go up to Liverpool. I would ask, you should be able to have it done anywhere with a referral. We didn't have to pay a cent, even tho we are private.