Medicare Rebates/Fees
There are several Medicare initiatives that enable you to receive a rebate on your psychological treatment. Explained below are the most common schemes that we work with here at Seagrass Psychology as well as answers to frequently asked questions about Medicare rebates.
List of Common Questions
Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative
This is the most common Medicare initiative we work with. The Better Access Initiative enables people with an assessed mental disorder to access up to 10 individual services and up to 10 group therapy services per calendar year.
To access these rebates you need to have a GP prepared Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) which constitues a referral from your GP for a course of treatment (up to 6 sessions). Once your MHTP is in place, your GP can provide you with an additional referral for the remaining 4 sessions, totalling 10 session rebates per calendar year.
Eating Disorder Services (EDP)
If you are living with a diagnosed eating disorder you can receive up to 40 psychological sessions in a 12-month period under an Eating Disorder Plan (EDP). EDP’s use The Stepped Model which means that the EDP must be reviewed by your GP once the initial course of treatment (10 sessions) is completed, and also after each subsequent course of treatment (10 sessions).
When the EDP expires after 12 months, you will need a new EDP to continue to access psychological services under this scheme.
Medicare Referral Requirements
For MHTP and EDP services, to claim Medicare rebates, you must provide us with a valid referral letter from your GP. The date shown on the referral is the date you are eligible to receive rebates. Rebates cannot be back-dated for sessions that have been completed before the date of the referral.
Fees
Your Health Care Investment
♦ 20 minute initial phone consultation – FREE
♦ Individual counselling therapy – $210
♦ Clinical supervision – $130
Please contact Rebecca if you have any further questions on payment or rebates.
