Getting ready for your appointment | Hep C

If you have hepatitis C, or liver health issues, you will have appointments for your treatment. The information below helps you prepare for appointments. It covers the types of appointments you might have, things to bring to your appointment, and some costs and rebates. You can talk or online Chat with our Hepatitis Infoline if you have any questions about appointments for hepatitis C.

NOTE: All the information below is for people with a Medicare card, who live in NSW.

Types of appointments you might have

GP (your doctor), nurse, specialist, or Liver Clinic, either face-to-face or via Telehealth (by phone or online).
Testing, which might include Fibroscan, ultrasounds or pathology (blood tests).

Making your appointments

Use our online local service directory to find contact details for clinics, doctors and specialists near you. If you need help finding a service, please contact us through the Hepatitis Infoline and we’ll help you through the process.

Ask if there are any costs when you make your appointment.

If you are not confident speaking English, you can ask for a Health Care interpreter. Health Care interpreters can support you in person or over the phone.

Find Telehealth information for hepatitis C, here >>

Things to bring to your appointment

Bring or have on your phone:

referral letters from your GP (only specialists need a referral letter, you don’t need a referral letter from your GP)
your Medicare card and ID
your contact details, including email address
contact number for your GP or treating specialist
carer or family member’s name and contact details
any test results
list of your medications, including for other health conditions
list of any supplements, traditional medicines or alternative medicines you are taking
a list of any questions you might have (so you don’t forget).
if you are not confident speaking English, bring someone who can help you talk with your doctor, or a Health Care interpreter.

Types of tests you might need to get

Fibroscan: This painless liver scan looks for liver damage such as fibrosis or cirrhosis. This test is available at Liver Clinics for free.
Ultrasound: This test looks for liver damage such as cirrhosis or fibrosis, as well as cysts, lumps or tumors that may or may not be liver cancer. This test may be free as a public patient, or you may have to pay upfront and claim the Medicare rebate (you’ll be out of pocket $100-150).
Blood tests may be needed. After your blood test results come back an APRI score is calculated by your doctor. This score gives your doctor an idea of your level of liver fibrosis (inflammation). If you have moderate or severe fibrosis, you may be referred for treatment at a Liver Clinic or by a specialist. This test is free.
DBS, a finger prick blood test for current hepatitis C infection. This test is free.
PCR is a viral detection blood test for current hepatitis C infection. This test is free once a year.

During your appointment

Look at your list of questions to ask your doctor and take note of the answers.
You or anyone you have brought to your appointment can make notes.
You can call a support person to listen to the appointment if they can’t be there in person.
Ask your doctor or specialist to explain if you don’t understand something.
Keep your referrals, test results and prescriptions (scripts) safe, all in one bag or envelope, and put them in a safe place.
Ask about any preparation you need for any tests (e.g. fasting).

After your appointment

After your appointment it is a good idea to list any future appointments or tests on your mobile phone calendar (with reminders), paper calendar or diary.
Call or Chat with the Hepatitis Infoline if you don’t understand any part of your hepatitis C appointment. The team can help you and send you more information.

Understanding your results

Read all about hepatitis C test results, here >>

Read about hepatitis C treatment

www.hep.org.au/hep-c/hep-c-treatment/
Test results can be confusing so try to ask your doctor questions when you receive them.

You can also contact the Hepatitis Infoline staff to help you understand your test results and what to do next.

Follow-up appointments, going back for results and follow up

Once you start to take hepatitis C treatment, your doctor or specialist can renew the script in a Telehealth appointment, and can send you the script by email or text, so that you don’t run out.

12 weeks after you finish hepatitis C treatment, you will be asked to get a PCR blood test to check that you have been cured. A “negative” result means no virus was found and you are cured of hepatitis C.*

If you have finished hepatitis C treatment, you can read our After treatment page on what to do next.

*NOTE: Even after cure, hep C antibody tests will have a positive result. This means that you had hep C at some point, not that you necessarily have it now. For more information, read all about hepatitis C test results, here >>

Appointment costs and rebates

Always check with your clinic or health provider for the most up-to-date costs.

Medicare costs and rebates for hepatitis C care and treatment

Public hospital liver clinics (called Gastroenterology Clinics) provide consultations free of charge or Medicare bulk-billed.

A standard doctor’s appointment will cost about $90, but $43.90 is rebated by Medicare, so your actual payment is $46 after the rebate, as of April 2026. Find out how to access Medicare rebates, here >>

If the doctor decides to bulk bill your visit, you won’t have to pay anything.

Treatment may be provided for free at some public health clinics. The medication can be bought from the hospital pharmacy. Otherwise, you will be given a prescription (script) to take to your local pharmacy or chemist shop. They may need to order your medicine, and ask you to come and collect it a few days later. See our Directory to find a chemist near you. There are also online pharmacies that can help. Get any repeat scripts filled at the pharmacy before you run out of medication.

Treatment is funded through the PBS (Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme) for Australian resident adults with hepatitis C who hold a Medicare Card. You will pay the “co-payment” for a prescription. This is $25 per script (or $7.70 if you have a concession card – that is, a Health Care Card from Services Australia).

Hepatitis C treatment will need 1 or 2 scripts for treatment taking 8 or 12 weeks.

GP Telehealth appointment costs and rebates

Telehealth appointments can save you time and travel costs. The doctor’s staff will tell you the cost and take the payment on a credit card when you book the appointment. Costs for Telehealth appointments are usually the same as in-person appointments, and the Medicare rebates are the same.