Bulk billing & using the Medicare Rebate
Bulk billing is available for self-supporting full-time students, pensioners, or upon presentation of a Commonwealth Government Health Care card. In order to claim, you must bring a Mental Health Care Plan from your GP to the first session.
What is a Mental Health Care Plan and how do I get one?
In November 2006, the Australian Government introduced a Medicare rebate for psychological treatment by registered psychologists. To claim this rebate you will need to see your GP to discuss your eligibility for what is known as a GP Mental Health Care Plan.
I have a referral to another psychologist. Can I use it to see you?
Yes, and Mental Health Care Plans are transferable and you can use them to see any psychologist you wish. Simply bring a copy of your Mental Health Care Plan and your medicare card to your initial session.
Can I claim for sessions using private insurance?
The majority of health insurance funds allow you to claim a limited number of sessions with a psychologist as long as that psychologist is a registered medicare provider.I may need to register with your health fund in order to allow you to claim sessions. You can check with your individual health fund to see if they will provide you with a rebate.
What is the cancellation policy?
Psychotherapy is a commitment to yourself and most beneficial when appointments are kept regularly. In order to provide a continuity of care, I reserve and commit to a regular therapy time for each client. I therefore, request that reasonable notice be given for cancellations so that someone in need can use the appointment time.
How many sessions do I get?
After preparing your Mental Health Care Plan, your GP will refer you to a psychologist for an initial round of treatment (up to 6 sessions). Once your initial course of treatment is complete your psychologist will assess your progress and make a recommendation as to whether therapy needs to continue.
Do I need a GP Referral?
Only if you want to claim a Medicare rebate. We are able to see you without a GP referral although it’s sometimes a good idea to keep your GP in the loop if you have a significant issue.
I have a referral addressed to another psychologist, can I use it at Mindview?
Yes, Medicare allows us to accept referrals addressed to other psychologists. Once you have attended your first session, your psychologist will notify your GP that you have commenced treatment.
How much is the rebate?
Rebates for a single session are $129.55 with a clinical psychologist and $88.25 with a general psychologist.
How much is a psychologist rebated on Medicare?
If you are provided with a Mental Health Care Plan, you will be entitled to up to 10 sessions on this plan in a calendar year. If you are consulting a clinical psychologist you will be rebated $128.40 for each session. If you are consulting a registered psychologist you will be rebated $87.45 for each session.
How does the Medicare Safety Net work?
The Medicare Safety Net provides a higher Medicare benefit (85% of the fee) once you reach a certain threshold. If you are single Medicare will automatically pay you the higher benefit when you reach your threshold. However, if you are a family, or a couple, you must register as a Medicare Safety Net Family. This includes those on the same Medicare card. If you are registered as a family or couple, Medicare combines your medical costs so you are more likely to reach the thresholds sooner.
Does Medicare cover psychology?
Psychology Conditions Covered by Medicare Rebates. Many, but not all, conditions are eligible for Medicare rebates. If you want to ascertain your eligibility for rebates for psychological services under Medicare’s Better Access to Mental Health it is advisable that you book a long session with your treating doctor.
What is FPS in health insurance?
Focussed psychological strategies (FPS) services items 80100 to 80171 do not apply for services that are provided by any other Commonwealth or state funded services or provided to an admitted patient of a hospital. However, where an exemption under subsection 19 (2) of the Health Insurance Act 1973 has been granted to an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service or state/territory clinic, the FPS services items apply for services that are provided by eligible allied mental health professionals salaried by, or contracted to, the service as long as all requirements of the items are met, including registration with the Department of Human Services. These services must be direct billed (that is, the Medicare rebate is accepted as full payment for services).
What is a shared care plan?
A Health Care Home shared care plan means a written plan that is prepared for a patient enrolled at a Health Care Home trial site; is prepared by a medical practitioner (including a general practitioner but not including a specialist or consultant physician) who is leading the patient's care at the Health Care Home trial site; and includes: an outline of the patient's agreed current and long-term goals; the person or people responsible for each activity; arrangements to review the plan by a day mentioned in the plan; and if authorised by the patient, arrangements for the transfer of information between the medical practitioner and other health care providers supporting patient care about the patient's condition or conditions and treatment. Additionally, a Health Care Home shared care plan must include a record of the patient's agreement to mental health services; an outline of assessment of the patient's mental disorder, including the mental health formulation and diagnosis or provisional diagnosis; and if appropriate, a plan for one or more of crisis intervention and relapse prevention.
Can you use Medicare ancillary cover to top up Medicare?
Patients cannot use their private health insurance ancillary cover to ‘top up’ the Medicare rebate paid for the services.
Step 1 - visit your GP
The first step could be the hardest: recognising and accepting that you need help for your mental health.
Step 2: Find a psychologist and attend those six sessions
Louise Roufeil says choosing the right psychologist for you is a really important step.
Step 3: Six sessions not enough? Ask for four more
A Mental Health Treatment Plan initially gives you six rebatable sessions per calendar year. That means six sessions from January 1 - December 31. If your first session happens next week, for example, you can have six sessions until the end of the year. On January 1, you’ll be eligible for six more rebatable sessions for all of 2018.
