Frequently asked questions

An initial consultation for a new patient is $160, 40 minutes, by video. A follow-up review is $80, 20 minutes. That is the full consult fee: no joining fee, no subscription and no lock-in. Pathology is billed by the laboratory, and medicines are paid at the pharmacy. See the fees page for what is included and how cancellations work.

Consultations at Cortex are private, so there is no Medicare rebate on the appointment fee. That keeps the fee simple and lets the appointment run for the time set aside. If Brett requests blood tests, the laboratory bills those separately. Some tests are bulk-billed by the lab and some are not. A Medicare number may still be needed to create an electronic prescription. That does not turn the consultation into a Medicare service.

Yes. If a medicine is appropriate, you receive an electronic prescription you can take to any pharmacy in Australia. Cortex does not own a pharmacy, does not use a partner pharmacy, and does not bundle medicines into a plan. You pay the pharmacy, including the standard PBS price when the medicine is PBS-listed for a Nurse Practitioner and you are eligible.

Not automatically. Brett only recommends a medicine when it is clinically appropriate and safe. The first visit is an assessment. He asks for blood tests before treatment, unless recent results already answer the question. Sometimes the right plan is food, movement, sleep and follow-up, or a referral to another service. If a prescription is written, it is yours to fill where you choose. Cortex does not write a script for a single named treatment without that assessment.

Yes. You see Brett Jones, Nurse Practitioner, at every Cortex appointment. He keeps the practice small so he can remember your history and follow it properly. You should not have to retell your story from scratch each visit.

Cortex is Brett's practice, so the consult is with him. If you would prefer a female clinician, that is a fair preference. Say so, including by email before you book, and he will help arrange a referral. You are welcome to bring a support person to any consult.

A Nurse Practitioner is a registered nurse with further education and an endorsement to practise in an extended role. In Australia that includes assessing patients, ordering tests, making a diagnosis, prescribing and referring, within their scope of practice. Brett is a Nurse Practitioner. He is not a medical practitioner. Your GP remains important for care that needs an examination or a broader ongoing relationship. There is a plain-English page on this site if you want the longer version.

No. You can book directly. If you have a GP, Brett is glad to work alongside them and can write to them with your consent. A referral is not required to make an appointment.

No. If you or someone with you has chest pain, trouble breathing, weakness on one side, severe bleeding, a serious allergic reaction, or any other emergency, call 000. Cortex appointments are planned telehealth consults. They are not for urgent or life-threatening problems.

The first visit is a 40-minute video consult. You and Brett go through your history, what you want help with, your current medicines, and the day-to-day picture: sleep, food, movement, stress and, where it is relevant, cycle or menopause symptoms. He asks about your relationship with food before any plan that touches weight. He may ask for measurements and blood tests. You are welcome to bring a support person. You leave with a clear next step. That next step is not always a prescription.

No. You pay for each consultation. There is no monthly plan, no annual lock-in and no medicine included in the fee. Follow-up appointments are part of safe care. They are booked because the plan needs a check-in, not because a subscription says so.

Telehealth is available Australia-wide. The initial consult is by video, so you need a private place and a device with a camera. Appointment times are the ones shown on the booking page. We do not promise same-day or after-hours visits.

Please cancel or reschedule as early as you can, and at least 24 hours before the appointment. A late cancellation or a missed appointment may still be charged. The exact notice period is marked on the fees page as waiting for Brett's confirmation. Repeatedly missing follow-up can mean prescribing is paused until you are reviewed. That is a safety step, not a penalty.