Medicals are a different appointment from an ordinary consultation: longer, form-driven and rarely covered by Medicare. Tell reception exactly what the assessment is for when you book, so the right amount of time is set aside and you are quoted the fee up front.
Assessments we do
- Medical Fitness to Drive Assessment (MR68) for a Tasmanian car or motorcycle licence
- Commercial and heavy vehicle medicals – medium rigid class and above, public passenger vehicles and dangerous goods drivers, assessed against the commercial standard
- Fitness to drive assessments requested by Transport Tasmania after a medical condition is reported
- Pre-employment medicals
- Fitness-for-work and return-to-work assessments
- Insurance and superannuation medical reports
- Medical certificates and reports for employers and licensing bodies
Fitness to drive in Tasmania
Tasmania does not require a compulsory medical simply because of your age – the age-based assessment for drivers aged 75 and over was discontinued. Instead, you are responsible for assessing your own fitness to drive and for reporting a long-term medical condition that could affect it, and Transport Tasmania may then ask for a medical assessment. Commercial and heavy vehicle drivers are assessed on a set schedule against a stricter standard.
Assessments are done against the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards, using the MR68 form; you complete the MR69 patient questionnaire yourself. Bring the forms if Transport Tasmania has sent them to you – otherwise the practice has them.
What to bring
- Your driver licence or photo identification
- Any forms you have been sent, already filled in as far as you can
- Your glasses or contact lenses, and hearing aids if you use them
- A list of your current medicines
- Recent test results or specialist letters relevant to the assessment
Fees
Medicals attract no Medicare rebate – they are not treatment. The fee depends on the assessment and the paperwork involved, and reception will quote it when you book. Payment is at the appointment.
The doctors
Medicals are done by the doctors who work from Health Nexus, including:
- Dr Asim Razak – occupational health, medicals
- Dr Sai Tip – medicals, chronic disease
- Dr Arsalan (Sam) Mahmud – medicals, acute care
Fees and Medicare
Health Nexus Launceston is a mixed-billing practice. Children aged 12 and under are bulk billed whenever the practice is open, including evenings and weekends. Pension card holders over 65 and DVA Gold Card holders are bulk billed on weekdays between 8am and 5pm. Everyone else pays the consultation fee with the Medicare rebate claimed on the spot. The current fees are on the fees and bulk billing page.
The practice is open 8am–8pm Monday to Friday, 8am–5pm Saturday and 9am–5pm Sunday, every day of the year, and on every public holiday at the standard hours for that day.
Common questions
How do I get a fitness to drive assessment in Tasmania?
Book a medical appointment and say it is for a fitness to drive assessment. The doctor completes the MR68 form against the national Assessing Fitness to Drive standards; you complete the MR69 questionnaire. You then lodge the form with Transport Tasmania.
Do drivers aged 75 and over still need an annual medical in Tasmania?
No. Tasmania discontinued compulsory age-based medical assessments. You must still assess your own fitness to drive and report any long-term condition that could affect it, and a medical assessment may be requested.
Is a driving medical covered by Medicare?
No. Medicals are not Medicare-rebatable. Reception will quote the fee when you book.
How long does a medical take?
Allow 30 to 45 minutes, longer for a commercial or heavy vehicle assessment.
Do you do aviation or diving medicals?
No. Those require separately accredited examiners.
