You have seen the $29 figure on a booking page and want a clearer read on the telehealth consult fee itself — what you are paying for, minute by minute, and what sits outside that amount. This guide breaks the fee down component by component: practitioner time, history, the clinical conversation, and phone or video access. It also covers how the $29 initial and $19 follow-up relate, what the fee does not cover, and how to read fee pages when you compare clinics. At CannElevate, the initial telehealth consult is $29 and follow-ups are $19, privately billed, with no referral needed.
Key takeaways
- The telehealth consult fee pays for a scheduled block of practitioner time, your history, the clinical conversation, and phone or video access — not extras outside that appointment.
- CannElevate’s initial consult is $29; follow-ups are $19. Both are privately billed.
- When you compare clinics, match like for like: session length, what is included, and what is billed separately.
What the telehealth consult fee pays for
Think of the telehealth consult fee as the price of one booked appointment slot, not a bundle of every service a clinic might offer later. In practical terms, your $29 initial fee at CannElevate covers:
- Practitioner time. A full 20-minute initial consult with an AHPRA-registered practitioner. That block is yours for the history, questions and next steps you need to cover.
- History and intake context. The practitioner works from what you shared at registration and what you add on the call, so the conversation starts with your situation rather than a blank page.
- The clinical conversation. Time to talk through what is going on for you, what you want from the consult, and the options the practitioner can discuss within their scope.
- Phone or video access. You choose the format that suits the day. A phone call is often simpler if your internet is patchy; video is available when you prefer it.
That is the line-by-line core of the fee: time, history, conversation, and the channel that connects you. For a higher-level view of what a $29 consult includes and how booking fits around it, see our earlier guide on telehealth consult cost in Australia.
Minute by minute: how a $29 slot is typically used
Every consult is different, but a 20-minute initial slot usually moves through a few clear beats:
- Opening and identity check. Confirming who you are and that you can talk privately.
- History and context. What brought you in, relevant background, and anything from a previous clinic.
- Goals and questions. What you hope to get from today, and the points you wrote down beforehand.
- Plan and next steps. What happens after the call, including whether a follow-up makes sense.
None of that is billed as a separate line item — it sits inside the single telehealth consult fee. For the booking steps before the call, see how an online telehealth clinic works in Australia. If you want the clinic overview first, start at our online telehealth clinic Australia home page.
What the fee does not cover
Clarity helps more than a long list of inclusions. The $29 initial (and $19 follow-up) telehealth consult fee does not cover:
- Anything outside the booked appointment. Extra calls, separate paperwork requests, or services that are not part of that consult slot are not rolled into the $29.
- A Medicare rebate on this fee. CannElevate consults are privately billed. You pay the stated amount for the appointment.
- Urgent or emergency care. Telehealth is not the right channel for emergencies. Call 000 if you need urgent help. Healthdirect’s guide to virtual care outlines when a virtual consult is a good fit and when it is not.
- A physical examination. Anything that needs hands-on assessment, imaging or in-person procedures belongs in a clinic or hospital setting.
Reading the fee page for what is out of scope is as useful as reading what is in. Soft extras that appear only after you book are a common source of surprise when people compare clinics.
How the $29 initial and $19 follow-up relate
The initial telehealth consult fee is $29 because the first appointment usually carries more history-taking. Follow-ups are $19 because you and the practitioner already share context, so the clinical conversation can move faster.
Both fees are privately billed, for phone or video with an AHPRA-registered practitioner, and bookable without a referral. You still need a Medicare card number or Individual Healthcare Identifier (IHI), as Services Australia explains.
Ready to talk it through? Book a $29 telehealth consult. No referral needed.
How to read fee pages when you compare clinics
Fee pages are easier to compare when you hold them to the same checklist:
- Session length. Is the quoted fee for 10, 15 or 20 minutes? A lower headline number can hide a shorter slot.
- What sits inside the fee. Practitioner time, history and the clinical conversation should be obvious. If the page is vague, ask before you book.
- What is billed separately. Note anything listed as “extra”, “on request”, or “not included”.
- Initial vs follow-up. Confirm both prices, not only the first-visit figure.
- Billing model. Privately billed means you pay the listed fee. CannElevate’s consult fee is privately billed.
Our compare clinic fees page is built for that side-by-side read. Match structure to structure, not slogan to slogan.
What to expect when you book with CannElevate
CannElevate offers Australia-wide telehealth. Phone or video, from wherever you are. Your initial consult with an AHPRA-registered practitioner is $29, and follow-ups are $19. Consults are privately billed, there is no referral needed, and a Medicare card number or IHI is required to book. Our team is available Monday to Friday, 8am–4pm AWST. You can see each step on our how it works page, compare clinic fees, or go straight to book a consultation. If you are moving from another clinic, our switching clinics page explains how the team can help with your records.
Frequently asked questions
What does the telehealth consult fee cover?
At CannElevate, the $29 initial telehealth consult fee covers a 20-minute appointment with an AHPRA-registered practitioner: history, the clinical conversation, and phone or video access. It does not cover services outside that booked slot, and the fee is privately billed.
Why is the follow-up $19 instead of $29?
The initial consult usually needs more history and scene-setting. Follow-ups are $19 because you and the practitioner already share context, so the same clinical conversation can focus on updates and next steps. Both fees are privately billed.
Are CannElevate consults privately billed?
Yes. CannElevate consults are privately billed. That applies to both the $29 initial and the $19 follow-up telehealth consult fee. You still need a Medicare card number or IHI to book.
Do I need a referral to book?
No. You can book a $29 initial telehealth consult directly, without a referral. Have your Medicare card or IHI and photo ID ready when you register.
Sources
- Australian Digital Health Agency: Telehealth
- Healthdirect: Virtual care clinics
- Services Australia: Individual Healthcare Identifiers
- Ahpra: Register of practitioners
Talk to a practitioner, from wherever you are
$29 telehealth consult, no referral needed, Australia-wide. Medicare number or IHI required. Consults privately billed. Phone or video with an AHPRA-registered practitioner; follow-ups are $19. Book now.
See how it works · telehealth, no referral · compare clinic fees · switching clinics? · refer a friend
