Hello all,

After four days of phone calls I have finally found somewhere that bulk bills the 12 week nuchal translucency ultrasound.

Philip Medical and Dental Centre
Colbee Court, Philip
Ph: 6112 7000

Just thought I'd share.

That's where we had ours done. For $1.00 you can get a disc with some photos and a couple of short video clips too.

Wish I had known that before! Good to know for next time.

Wow, thats a little exie!

LOL Michelle... That is where I will go in future.

Now I just need to get pg!

Thanks for the info girls, hopefully I will need it in the very near future!

Cheers,

I didn't know about the disc, now I really really can't wait!

LOL Michelle!

Just curious.. what the price would be if you weren't to get it bulk billed.

I didn't have it done last time around but when this time happens I wouldn't mind... so come on hit me with the $$$$.

It was $254.50 in May 2006 at Canberra Imaging in Deakin!

wosers... is that after medicare or is it not claimable at all?

That's good to know Sgettie. Not that I'm planning anymore

Did you ring and see if Ginninderra Medical Centre offer the same thing?

Susana - it didn't even occur to me to try GMC.

LittleEandGorgeousG - Calvary Clinic charge $197 with a medicare rebate of approx. $45.

This is the first pregnancy that I have had to pay more than the gap for the ultrasounds.

i've never had to pay for an u/s and i've had about a million zillion (though i never had the nuchal fold one)

Karen - I was told the only one they wont bulk-bill for is the nuchal one, hence why I called around when I also have never paid for one. I have had a at least 4 with my other babies and not paid for a single one.

All of mine were bulk billed but for the NTS. I paid $180 for that and got $65 back. You can get a rebate if they write something like 'dating scan' or something on the request form so it's not JUST the NTS. I have had all mine done through NCDI (mainly civic as it's right across the road from DH's office building).

GMC referred me over to the phillp medical centre for the 12 week scan

My GP wrote dating scan on it and I didn't have to pay a thing! we had kind of an idea, but not 100% and since we had to know to check growth due to a medical condition, I feel it was warrented.

ah ok. that's kind of funny given that they virutally push you into it if you're in one of the 'high risk' groups

Yep the Phillip place is bulk billed but I've heard they aren't too good

I had my 12 week scan done at Tuggeranong a few weeks ago was $185 with $59 back.

For my 20 week scan I'm getting it done at Canberra Imaging in Deakin and its $185 as well and not $254 as previously quoted

Aren't too good in what way, BrindleGirl?

~*~

Totally agree wtih you on that one Tan. With Cooper we went to NCDI at Tuggeranong and saw one particular lady who if I ever got again (I am told they move to all of the offices in Canberra at some time) I would refuse to see. She just did a rush job, kept blaming me for not being able to get the right measurement and pretty much said as we were leaving that she didn't do it properly It was my first NT scan (didn't have one with DD) so I didn't really pay too much attention. Of course when we got the results back of 1:49 it caused all sorts of worries/concerns.

With this pregnancy I went to NCDI at Woden. I had a dating scan at 10wks and explained to the lady at the time what an awful experience I'd had with Cooper. She was so lovely and pretty much said it sometimes does come down to who you get and how competent they are. I felt so comfortable with her and she promised to do my NT scan 2 weeks later. She really took her time and I just felt so much better.

Anyway don't want to hijack your thread Sgettie Just though I'd give my experience. I have heard at one time the lady that was Phillip was very good, but that was a few months back.

Kelly
DH Chris

Tan - I have had nothing but bad experiences with Canberra Imaging. They have always rushed me, been exceptionally rude and refused to let any kids in with me (even when DH was at work and I was the only parent there ).

I even had one woman tell me there was no evidence of a baby at all just a yolk sac - I was only 4 weeks PG and DS is now 6 1/2.

When i was having my NT scan i asked my doctor if she would write bulkbill on the form for me, she said that canberra imaging had sent a letter telling them not to do it anymore but she did write please bulk bill if possibe. Canberra imaging couldnt get me in so i went to NCDI in woden (they accept canberra imaging refferals)i had good old mum with me in case i had to pay but the lady at the counter said, you wont be charged because of what my doctor wrote. I had had all my previour pregnancy ultrasounds done at canberra imaging but i was blown away at NCDI, the ldy i got was excellent, talked to me about everything she was doing, my 2 boys were with us and she was patient with them and stopped to show them things. The baby was very acive making it hard for her to get the measurement so she had another lady come in and have a try, got me to go to the loo, cough, wriggle my hips etc until she got the baby in a good position. I was there for quite a while and neverfelt rushed at all. She waslovely!!
Just a note that if you have the blood test after wardsyou have to pay for that. They send you a bill about 10days ater the bloodtest,its about $80 ut you only have to pay approx $22??
Good luck!
I will be going back to NCDI for my 20 week!!

I've never been to the place in Phillip so can't comment on what it's like.

I've been once to NCDI in Deakin and will never go back there again. The woman I got was extremely rude and spent the whole time telling DH and I that we had come too early for our Morphology scan despite being told by our Ob just the week before that I needed to book in and get it done ASAP. She made the entire experience horrible and I just wouldn't take the chance that I could end up with her ever again. Seriously, we came out of there feeling like we had been bad schoolkids rather than expecting parents who had just seen their baby. Not fun.

All other scans have been done at Canberra Imaging in Deakin. Given that both my pregnancies have been considered high risk, we have had quite a few scans tbh. Out of all of them, I think during only one I actually felt like we were a little rushed. But given that we had already been in there for quite a while asking lots of questions, I'm not surprised. At every scan I had when pg with DD, DH and DS were welcomed into the room with me - we never encountered anyone telling us that DS couldn't come in. I think children are discouraged (or perhaps even barred) from going into the scan rooms with Mum at the Belconnen or Calvary Canberra Imaging office (sorry for the vagueness, just not sure exactly where they are over the northside - but this is what I've heard).

BTW every scan I've had I have had to pay for and claim back through Medicare.

Thankyou sooo much for this info. I booked my 12 week scan through canberra Imaging and wasn't too happy about the cost. So I just rang phillip and booked an appointment So impressed that they bulk bill and give you a cd of images Now I just gotta ring calvary clinic back and cancel

ETA, the lady said I didn't need to do any drinking prep, is this true? did those who went to phillip for their 12 week scan not have to drink water?

Nope, no need for a full bladder! You've got to love advances in technology.

Oh, it was not the FULL bladder that I found the problem, it was when they would then say "okay, go empty HALF your bladder and come back" ... right, sure, thankfully I had the pelvic floor strength to stop the flow and hold it, but how the heck was I meant to know when it was half full?

Excellent that you were able to get in.

I tried a couple of weeks ago and wasn't able to get a spot because she was away for four weeks

I rang Belconnen but they didn't do it. More people need to bulk bill!

That really sucks especially when Belconnen do all the other ultrasounds and bulk bill for them.

I can understamd there being a high demand at Philip though, there are not enough places that bulk bill and they are lovely there.

Yeah I think I managed to get in cause it is in September, and i wouldn't expect there to be a hell of a lot of appointments as yet for then? I am so looking forward to it now.

I need to bump this up again.

I am off for my scan next week at the Phillip scan place, and was wondering if they will do my bloods there? And do I need to fast?

I keep hearing different stories of people getting their bloods done a week or 2 before their NT scan and also having to fast. Though with DD I had my BT straight after my scan at the Calvary Clinic when.

When my Dr gave me the referrel for this NT scan, she also gave me the form for the bloods and didn't say anything about having it done early.

Can anyone help?

I feel like a newbie/first time mum all over again.

I'm pretty sure that when I had my NT scan, I had to have my bt within 24 hours of the scan. I was also surprised when I heard heaps of people elsewhere having their blood tests 2 weeks before.

I had my NT scan at Colbee Court and then went straight from there and had the bloods done at Capital Pathology at Deakin. I was seen to immediately, no waiting whatsoever. I'm pretty sure I was given the option of having the bloods done at Colbee Court too (bulk billed) but there must have been a reason we went to Deakin - perhaps the results were going to be processed faster or something like that? It seems like so long ago! (only 20 weeks ago)

When I had my scan I had bloods done after the scan. As pp said I think it needs to be within 24hrs of the scan.

GOD DAMMIT!! I looked everywhere for a bulk billing 12 week scan. *sigh*.

Wioll file for number three (Hubby unaware of that plan!!).

Tess - I had my bloods done at Philip straight after the scan, but did sit there waiting for about 1/2 an hour.

Mel -

Thanks so much girls.

Oh no Mel, I have decided that if ever in doubt consult the wonderful ACT EB'ers first.

Sgetti, How long did you have to wait for your films? I don't particularly wanna have to travel back over that way just to pick up films.

I was told all the results (both the films and blood results) would take a week but they called my four days later to collect them.

It's a bit of a pita to have to go back but it's a good excuse for a lunch.

Thanks Sgetti. I spose a week later isn't too bad, It's just having to drag DH out there

Anyone know if they bulk bill the 20 week one too?

I have a referral for National Diagnostic (or whatever) would they accept this?

Yep they do! I had my 20wk scan there and was bulkbilled,i had a referal for canberra imaging!
Got to love the bulk billing! And i honestly found the lady lovely AND she preferred an empty bladder over a full bladder for the 20 week scan! Thats a bonus! I still drank abut in case, figured it was easy to get it out if she wanted me to!

Ooh thanks, that's good to know I can go back to Phillip for my 20 week scan. I had my 20week scan when PG with DD at Calvary, and didn't get films only 2 small print out pics . so It'll be nice to go back and get another disc of pics

I had my 20 week one there a week ago. The lady is lovely and is always running on time. I don't think you have to drink for their ultrasounds either.
I got a disc with 4 video clips and a bunch of photos.
She even made sure she took one of the photos because the baby was in such a cool position with it's full body showing.

One thing I didn't realise with my 12 week is that you can take the disc you get for $1 straight into Kmart or any of the places with the instant digital photo machines and put it in a print out the photos as proper photos! It was great because we where able to give out the full body shot to the 2 grandmas and the great grandmother!

The lady was able to tell me that the baby was a girl and she was very certain about it. I feel confident that she got the sex right.

I was able to pick up the 3 sheets of films and the letter the very next afternoon.

I was very happy with the service there. In fact my GP said he gets more detailed reports from there than he does from the places you have to pay.

Now with your 12 week ultrasound when you get the bloods you will get a bill for about $80. Make sure you take it in to medicare and they will send you out a cheque for about $60 that you can give to the pathology place.

Thanks heaps for that info glassygirl, sounds Awesome! The people there sound really lovely too . I'm really looking forward to going

I know this is a long shot and it's better to wait till 20 weeks, but has anyone been told the sex of bubs at 12 weeks at Phillip? I'm not gonna rely on this 100%, but'd be nice if we could find out sooner.

Yep, MummaSgettie found out at 12 weeks from memory and it wasn't correct.

Just wanted to add my testimonial for Phillip Medical centre.

I went today and it was great! the sonographer was lovely, and seemd so much more nicer than your usual sonographer (most that I have had seemed a bit quiet and not very talkative IYKWIM). I got my disc of pics with a few vids too. I even emptied my bladder before leaving home this morning, and was told when I got there (after 10 mins of scanning) that it was still full, so I had to empty it again (I had only had a few sips of water). Great thing too, there was no-one waiting in front of me, so about 5 mins of me getting there, I was in having my scan.

Oh and they just sent me to capital pathology for my bloods, I ended up just going to Calvary clinc as it was on my way home.