Cann I Help has introduced free initial consultations to ease the financial burden on patients, adding to its existing rapid and compassionate access programs.
Head of Medical at Cann I Help, Dr Laurence Kemp, said: "We recognise the economic challenges facing many Australians today. Offering complimentary initial consultations underscores our dedication to making a tangible difference in the lives of those in need."
Cann I Help, which is owned by cannabis producer Medcan, said the free first consultations — which began last month — "represent a sincere effort… to support individuals grappling with various medical conditions, such as chronic pain and sleep disorders, through alternative… solutions".
Patients will be bulk billed through Medicare or the Department of Veterans' Affairs (DVA) where eligible, or receive a free consultation if they do not qualify through either program. Those patients will face a A$19 fee if they choose to have their prescriptions forwarded to an external pharmacy.
On the pharmacy charge, which came into effect when consultation fees were removed at the start of April, Kemp said: "The $19 is charged once per consult, not for each prescription and only for appointments/patients who are not eligible for bulk billing, where we provide an appointment for free.
"It also does not apply to patients on our compassionate program or to DVA patients. In reality this charge only applies to a minority of patients."
He added: "As a clinic you have a choice. Either you offer free or cheap consultations but limit your patient's choice of products or pharmacy to generate revenue from sales, or you charge a much higher consultation fee and offer patients a broader choice.
"We believe we have stuck an optimal balance between the two ends of the spectrum. Patients happy to use our pharmacy receive free, or bulk-billed, consultations. Patients who prefer to use their own chemist have an unrestricted choice and still get exceptional value.
"So $19 for a consultation with a prescriber is a fantastic deal from anybody's perspective. The patient is in control of their own pathway."
In the three years since Cann I Help's network was established, Kemp said there has been a "notable shift in societal attitudes towards alternative medicine".
"This initiative serves as another step towards normalising the use of medicinal cannabis for managing diverse medical conditions," he said.
In February, Cann I Help rolled out its rapid access program, a streamlined appointment and consultation process designed to issue a cannabis prescription for eligible patients within 60 minutes.
The network also operates a compassionate access scheme for patients who cannot afford medicinal cannabis treatments not covered by the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, as well as a dedicated veterans' access program.
Since its founding in 2021, the clinic has treated more than 15,000 patients.
