Psychological services and Medicare

The Medicare Initiative enables you to receive a Medicare rebate when you see a Clinical Psychologist or a Psychologist in a private setting. To qualify, you need a referral from a general practitioner (GP), psychiatrist or paediatrician, outlining a psychological condition and the treatment required.

You can claim up to 12 Medicare rebates in a calendar year, with a GP review after six psychological consultations. In addition to individual services, you can also receive rebates for up to 12 group sessions in a calendar year.

The referring doctor will write you a GP Mental Health Care Plan, which you need to bring to your first appointment. This management plan takes time to complete, and you should book a double appointment to complete it with your doctor. Your doctor will register this appointment under item 2710, and the review appointment under item 2712.

You can't use your private health insurance ancillary cover to top up the Medicare rebates for the psychological services, so you'll need to decide whether to use Medicare or your private health insurance ancillary cover to pay for psychological consultations.

If you decide not to use Medicare for any of your eligible appointments (for example, when you are waiting for a review by your doctor) you can use your private health care fund to claim rebates.

What will it cost me?

With an appropriate referral from your GP to me, you pay $190 for a 50-minute consultation, and receive a Medicare rebate of $117.65.  Janelle, Jane and Mercedes charge $160 for a 50-minute consultation, and you receive a Medicare rebate of $80.20.
The Medicare rebates for Group sessions are $20.45 per session when run by a Psychologist, and $29.20 per session when run by a Clinical Psychologist.

You can read more about the rebates at 

http://www.psychology.org.au/Assets/Files/MBS-indexed-schedule-fees-and-rebates.pdf

Your GP will decide to whom your referral will be made - we have different skills.  Please contact one of us, or request that your GP call me or one of my associates for information about who would be the best therapist for you.

Payments are made on the day of your appointment, using a credit card, Eftpos, a cheque, cash or PayPal.

Medicare and My Practice

My practice is covered under the Medicare Initiative. Each of us can treat patients for a number of problems under the Medicare scheme, including the following.

  • Chronic psychotic disorders
  • Acute psychotic disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Phobic disorder
  • Generalised anxiety disorder
  • Adjustment disorder
  • Unexplained somatic complaints
  • Depression
  • Sexual disorders
  • Conduct disorder
  • Bereavement disorder
  • Post–traumatic stress disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Panic disorder
  • Alcohol use disorders
  • Drug use disorders
  • Mixed anxiety and depression
  • Dissociative (conversion) disorder
  • Neurasthenia
  • Sleep problems
  • Hyperkinetic (attention deficit) disorder
  • Enuresis (non-organic)
  • Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
  • Mental disorder, not otherwise specified

Dementia, delirium, tobacco use disorder and mental retardation are not regarded as mental disorders, for the purposes of the mental health Medicare items. More information on Medicare-related treatment of psychological issues can be found at the Department of Health and Ageing's website or the Australian Psychological Society's website.

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