Appointments & Fees
Testing in the GI Physiology Laboratory
**Open to all patients regardless of insurance status**
GI physiology testing, including oesophageal manometry and pH reflux testing, is available to all patients regardless of private health insurance status.
A valid referral from your doctor is required.
I have a referral for a test in the GI Physiology Laboratory – what happens next?
Your doctor may have referred you for one or more tests, such as oesophageal manometry and/or a pH reflux test.
Testing in the GI Physiology Laboratory is available to all patients, regardless of whether they have private health insurance.
Once your referral has been received via our online system you will be contacted to schedule your test the next available appointment using our online booking system. You will also be provided with pre-test instructions and information about what to expect.
Our schedule of fees, including out-of-pocket costs, can be found below.
Consultations with Dr Halland
Newcastle Gastroenterology is a private specialist practice. We are unfortunately unable to offer consultation appointments to patients who do not have private health insurance with hospital cover.
Patients without private health insurance can ask their doctor for a referral to the gastroenterology clinic at John Hunter Hospital. Newcastle Gastroenterology is not able to forward referrals to John Hunter Hospital or advise regarding public hospital waiting times.
I have a referral to see Dr Halland in the clinic – what happens next?
Please confirm that your private health insurance policy includes hospital cover and that you are not currently in a waiting period.
When your doctor refers you to Dr Halland, it usually takes a few days for your GP or specialist’s administrative team to send the referral. Once we receive the referral, it is triaged by Dr Halland, usually within 24–48 hours.
Our team will contact you once this process is complete.
To enquire about the status of your referral, the best next step is to email us at: reception@newcastlegastro.com.au
Please attach a copy of your referral if your doctor has provided one to you.
Fees
Unlike many private practices in the region, Newcastle Gastroenterology provides transparent disclosure of fees and informed financial consent for all patients. This allows patients to understand the expected cost on the day and the likely out-of-pocket amount before attending tests and appointments.
Out of Pocket Cost for Procedures
Dr Halland performs a range of endoscopic procedures, including complex therapeutic procedures. Coverage varies between health funds and individual policies, and out-of-pocket costs may apply for some patients and procedures.
If an out-of-pocket cost applies, Dr Halland will discuss this with you during your consultation. Informed financial consent is obtained before any procedure is scheduled.
Our current fee schedule for consultations and GI Physiology Laboratory procedures is outlined below.
Consultation Fees
| Fee | Medicare- rebate# | Out of pocket Cost | |||
| Standard consultation (30 min) | $405 | $156 | $249 | ||
| Complex consultation (45 min) | $650 | $156 – 272 | $378 – 494 | ||
| Follow-up visit (15 min) | $200 | $78 | $122 | ||
| Long follow-up visit (30 min) | $300 – 405 | $78 – 156 | $144 – 327 | ||
| GI Comprehensive Visit* (60-90 min) | $750 – 1125 | $272 | $478 – 853 |
Notes: Fees are rounded to the nearest dollar for simplicity.
The prices above indicate maximum costs. Non-complex or shorter visits may be billed at a lower fee.
* The GI Comprehensive Visit applies to highly complex patients referred to Dr Halland for a second or subsequent opinion regarding complicated gastrointestinal disorders. Only a limited number of this appointment type are available for local, regional and interstate patients per year. You have typically been referred by another gastroenterologist or specialist. You will be advised after referral triage if this appointment type is required
We accept cash, Visa and Mastercard.
GI Physiology Laboratory Consultation and Procedure Fees
All patients undergoing testing in the GI Physiology Laboratory have three separate fees:
- Facility fee — paid at the time of booking
- Pre-procedure consultation fee — charged for consultation with Dr Halland before testing
- Professional fee — charged for performing, interpreting, and reporting the test
Unfortunately, GI physiology testing is expensive. These tests are highly specialised and require dedicated equipment, complex supply-chain management, trained nursing staff, room time, careful test preparation, infection-control processes, technical troubleshooting, and expert medical interpretation. The quality of these tests depends not only on the equipment, but also on how the test is performed, whether adequate data is obtained, and how accurately the results are interpreted. Dr Halland has subspecialty fellowship training in oesophageal and motility disorders and extensive experience performing and interpreting these studies, including during his time at Mayo Clinic in the United States. Newcastle Gastroenterology provides this service privately in Newcastle so that patients can access high-quality testing locally, usually with short wait times and timely reporting. Public testing with no out-of-pocket cost may be available through John Hunter Hospital, although waiting times and availability are managed by the public hospital system.
1. Facility fee
A $185 facility fee applies to all GI Physiology Laboratory testing appointments.
This fee is paid at the time of booking and is not Medicare-rebatable.
The facility fee helps cover the cost of providing the service, including specialised equipment, room use, booking administration, nursing support, test preparation, and laboratory operations.
Only one facility fee is charged per testing appointment, even if more than one physiological test is performed on the same day.
The facility fee applies once the testing appointment has been booked and prepared for. It is not dependent on the test being successfully completed. For example, the fee still applies if the test cannot be completed because the catheter cannot be tolerated or adequate test data cannot be obtained.
2. Pre-procedure consultation fee
All patients require a pre-procedure consultation with Dr Halland before GI Physiology Laboratory testing.
This consultation is charged at the relevant Medicare rebate amount, resulting in no out-of-pocket cost for the consultation.
| Pre-procedure consultation fee* | Fee | Medicare- rebate# | Out of pocket Cost | ||
| Existing patients | $76 | $76 | $0 | ||
| New patients | $152 | $152 | $0 |
3. Professional fee
The professional fee covers the performance, interpretation, and reporting of the physiological test.
Esophageal Physiological Tests
| Test | Professional fee | Medicare- rebate# | Professional fee out of pocket cost | ||
| Esophageal manometry | $575 | $173 | $402 | ||
| Esophageal manometry + pH impedance test | $1000 | $346 | $654 | ||
Fees are rounded to the nearest dollar for simplicity.
The facility fee is paid at the time of booking. The consultation and professional fees are payable on the day of testing, and Medicare rebates may be claimed after payment.
Total expected out-of-pocket cost
The table below shows the total expected out-of-pocket cost, including the facility fee.
| Test | Facility Fee | Consultation out-of-pocket cost | Professional fee out-of-pocket cost | Total out of pocket cost | ||
| Esophageal manometry | $185 | $0 | $402 | $587 | ||
| Esophageal manometry + pH impedance test | $185 | $0 | $654 | $839 | ||
BRAVO – Consulting and Procedure Fees
The cost of a BRAVO wireless pH test depends on multiple factors, including the procedure type, health fund coverage, Medicare eligibility, and whether other endoscopic procedures are required.
All patients require a pre-procedure consultation with Dr Halland, during which the specific costs will be discussed.Typical out-of-pocket fees for BRAVO testing range from approximately $800 to $1100.