The short answer
For a Medicare rebate, yes. You can book a neurologist without a referral if they'll see you, but you need a valid referral, usually from your GP, for the referred Medicare rate. Without one, the neurologist can only bill a lower item and you'll usually pay more. A GP referral lasts 12 months from your first appointment unless your GP writes a different period, including an indefinite one for ongoing care.
On this page
When should you call 000 instead?
A referral is for planned care. If you or someone near you shows signs of stroke, call 000 straight away, no matter how long the symptoms last [9]. Use the FAST test [9]:
- Face: has their mouth drooped?
- Arms: can they lift both arms?
- Speech: is their speech slurred, and do they understand you?
- Time: time is critical. If you see any of these signs, call 000.
Other signs include sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arm or leg, dizziness or an unexplained fall, sudden vision loss or blurring, and a sudden severe headache [9]. Symptoms that pass within minutes may be a transient ischaemic attack (TIA), which still needs emergency help [9].
Do you need a referral to see a neurologist?
To get a Medicare rebate at the referred rate, yes. You can see a specialist without a referral, but the Medicare item they can bill is lower, so your out-of-pocket cost is likely to be higher [1]. Healthdirect puts it simply: you need a referral to see a neurologist, and it usually comes from your GP [8].
Neurologists diagnose and treat conditions of the brain, spinal cord and nerves [8]. People are commonly referred for [8]:
- headaches and migraines
- seizures and epilepsy
- Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis (MS) and motor neurone disease
- memory and thinking problems, such as Alzheimer's disease
- stroke, or a brain or spinal injury
- symptoms such as muscle weakness, numbness or tingling, dizziness or balance problems
Who can refer you to a neurologist?
GPs are the main source of specialist referrals [1]. Other specialists can also refer you, in consultation with or by notifying your GP, and nurse practitioners can refer in certain circumstances [1].
For the referral to count for Medicare, the referring practitioner must have had a consultation with you and considered whether you need a referral, although it doesn't have to be at the same visit [2]. A referral from another specialist must also include the name of your GP or practice, or say that you can't or won't nominate one [2].
What should a neurologist referral include?
A valid referral includes the reason for the referral, relevant clinical information about your condition, the date and the referring practitioner's signature [1][3]. It can be on paper or electronic [1].
A useful neurology referral usually also covers:
- your symptoms, when they started and how they've changed
- what's been tried so far, and your current medicines
- results of earlier tests, such as blood tests, a CT scan or an MRI
Your neurologist will look at previous test results and may organise more tests [8], so bring copies if you have them. For more on the contents, see what goes in a referral letter.
Does the referral need to name a specific neurologist?
No. For private rooms and other community settings, the referral doesn't need to name a specialist, and your GP decides whether to include one [1]. If it's addressed to a named neurologist, you can still take it to a different neurologist without a new referral, unless you've already started seeing the named one [1].
The exception is a public hospital outpatient clinic where you're treated as a private patient and the service is billed to Medicare. There, the referral must be addressed to a named specialist [1]. Public patients in public hospital clinics don't need a named specialist [1].
How long does a referral to a neurologist last?
| Who wrote it | How long it lasts |
|---|---|
| Your GP | 12 months, unless the GP states a shorter, longer or indefinite period [1] |
| Another specialist | 3 months, or the length of a hospital admission if you're an admitted patient [1][3] |
The period starts from your first appointment with the neurologist, not the date the referral was written [1][3]. If you need ongoing care, your GP can refer you for longer than 12 months or indefinitely [3]. "Indefinite" is the preferred wording, though terms like "ongoing" can be accepted if the meaning is clear [1]. A new or unrelated problem needs a new referral [1]. There's more in how long a referral lasts.
What will Medicare cover, and what will you pay?
Neurologists set their own fees. With a valid referral, Medicare pays 85% of the schedule fee for a specialist consultation [6], and you pay any gap between that rebate and the fee charged.
As an example, if your neurologist bills as a consultant physician, the first appointment is usually item 110. Its schedule fee is $183.35 and the 85% benefit is $155.85 (schedule fee updated 1 July 2026, checked November 2026) [4]. Ask the practice what they charge and how much Medicare will cover before your first appointment [8].
Does private health insurance cover a neurologist?
Not for consultations in the neurologist's rooms. Health insurers can't contribute to out-of-hospital treatment for Medicare services [7], so your policy won't reduce the cost of an outpatient appointment.
Can you see a neurologist by telehealth?
Often, yes. Medicare has permanent telehealth items for specialists: first appointments can be by video, and some follow-up appointments can be by phone where clinically appropriate [5]. You still need a valid referral, but you don't need a separate referral just for telehealth [5].
Whether video suits you depends on your symptoms. A neurologist may need to examine you in person, and neurological examinations can take a while [8].
Referrals can be issued electronically [1], so a referral from a telehealth GP consultation can be sent to you or straight to the neurologist's practice. See can you get a referral online.
Getting a referral
Referral GP offers telehealth consultations, by phone or video, with AHPRA-registered Australian GPs. If it's clinically appropriate, your GP can write a referral to a neurologist and send it electronically. Where appropriate, they can also request blood tests or imaging so results are ready for your specialist.
A consultation doesn't guarantee a referral. Your GP decides what's clinically appropriate.
Bulk billed for eligible patients. If you're not eligible, a consultation fee may apply, and we'll confirm it with you before your consult.
Referral GP is not an emergency service. For signs of stroke, call 000.
This page is general information, not medical advice.
Common questions
Can a GP refer me to a neurologist?
How long does a referral to a neurologist last?
Can I see a neurologist without a referral?
Can I see a neurologist by telehealth?
References
- MBS Online. Factsheet: Referrals for specialist services (July 2026). Accessed November 2026. mbsonline.gov.au/internet/mbsonline/publishing.nsf/650f3eec0dfb990fca2
- MBS Online. Explanatory note GN.6.16: Referral of patients to specialists or consultant physicians. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=GN.6.16&qt=noteID
- Services Australia. Referrals for specialist treatment (updated 15 August 2025). Accessed November 2026. servicesaustralia.gov.au/referrals-for-specialist-treatment
- MBS Online. Item 110: consultant physician initial attendance after referral (schedule fee updated 1 July 2026). Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=110&qt=item
- MBS Online. Explanatory note AN.40.1: Specialist and consultant physician MBS telehealth attendance items. Accessed November 2026. www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=note&q=AN.40.1&qt=noteID
- privatehealth.gov.au (Commonwealth Ombudsman). What is covered. Accessed November 2026. privatehealth.gov.au/health_insurance/what_is_covered
- Medical Costs Finder (Australian Government). A guide to out-of-pocket medical costs. Accessed November 2026. medicalcostsfinder.health.gov.au/resources/a-guide-to-out-of-pocket-me
- healthdirect. Neurologist (last reviewed November 2024). Accessed November 2026. healthdirect.gov.au/neurologist
- Stroke Foundation. Signs of stroke. Accessed November 2026. strokefoundation.org.au/about-stroke/learn/signs-of-stroke
Published by Referral GP. Last updated 6 November 2026. This page is general information only and isn’t a substitute for advice about your own situation. If you or someone else is in danger, call 000.