Under the current Better Access to Mental Health Initiative, General Practitioners, Psychiatrists and Paediatricians may refer to specialist allied health professionals who are registered with Medicare. This entitles the referred person to receive a Medicare rebate for the cost of the consultation. All allied health practitioners at CPConsulting are registered with the Better Access Scheme. Rebates are also available through Private Health Insurance extras cover.
Information regarding Medicare Rebates was obtained from psychology.org.au and is correct as at 16 August 2014.
Medicare rebates are available for psychological treatment by registered psychologists under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This scheme provides considerable assistance to people living with mental heath problems, allowing them greater access to psychologists and providing more affordable mental healthcare.
Many mental health problems can be treated under the Better Access initiative. ‘Mental disorder’ is a term used to describe a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly impact on a person’s emotions, thoughts, social skills and decision-making.
The Better Access initiative covers people with mental disorders arising from:
- Anxiety disorder
- Adjustment disorder
- Depression
- Conduct disorder
- Bereavement disorders
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
- Panic disorder
- Alcohol use disorders
- Drug use disorders
- Sleep problems
- Attention deficit disorder
- Obsessive compulsive disorder
- Co-occurring anxiety and depression
- Psychotic disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Phobic disorders
- Sexual disorders
You must be referred by your GP, your psychiatrist or pediatrician. Your GP will need to complete a detailed mental health assessment and prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan before referring you to a psychologist. You should book a longer session with your GP to enable time for this. Under the scheme you can only see a registered psychologist with a Medicare Provider Number who you have been referred to by your GP, psychiatrist or pediatrician.
The Australian Government has recently announced several changes to the allowable number of treatment sessions a person can receive from a psychologist each year under the Better Access program and claim a Medicare rebate.
Eligible people can receive:
- Up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year. Your referring doctor will assess your progress after the first six sessions.
- Up to 10 group therapy sessions in a calendar year where such services are available and seen as appropriate by your referring doctor and the psychologist.
Other Medicare rebates for psychological services are available for people with chronic illness. For more information please contact Medicare or your General Practitioner.
After you have reached the maximum number of allowable sessions, you will not be eligible for any further Medicare rebates for treatment you receive from a psychologist until the new calendar year.
Other Medicare rebates for psychological services are available for people with chronic illness. For more information please contact Medicare or your General Practitioner.
Private health funds also offer rebates for psychological services under some plans. Please contact your insurer to discuss what your policy covers.