Medicare Rebates
The Federal Government’s Better Access Initiative enables individuals to access specialist services from clinical psychologists. Under this scheme, a special referral known as a Mental Health Care Plan is required from a General Practitioner, Paediatrician, or Psychiatrist.
In order to get a referral from your GP, an extended appointment is necessary to allow time for the paperwork to be completed. The easiest way to arrange this may be to discuss it with your doctor’s practice manager. According to the Medicare criteria, individuals (including children and teenagers) who have difficulty in any of the following areas are eligible:
- Psychotic disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Bipolar disorder
- Phobic disorders
- Anxiety disorders
- Adjustment disorder
- Depression
- Sexual disorders
- Conduct disorder
- PostTraumatic stress disorder
- Eating disorders
- Panic disorder
- Alcohol use disorders
- Drug use disorders
- Attention deficit disorder
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
- Co-occurring anxiety and depression
- Bereavement disorders
Children & Adolescents are also eligible under this scheme. Eligible patients can generally receive up to 10 individual services in a calendar year. Your referring doctor will assess your progress after the first six sessions. Provision may exist for individuals to receive additional services where exceptional circumstances arise (exceptional circumstances will be identified by the referring doctor).
Non Medicare Referrals
In some instances, a Medicare referral may not be necessary or applicable. A referral is NOT needed to have appointments with Simon if the indiviudal is intending to pay as a private patient. In these instances, rebates may be available through the individual’s private health care fund.
Concessions
Patients with a Medicare referral and with a concession card will be bulkbilled.
Please discuss individual circumstances with Simon.