Better access to mental health
Clients are eligible for a Medicare rebate between $88.25 and $129.55 per session under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Scheme. This rebate applies to services that have been referred by your GP, whereby they have assessed that there is a significant mental health difficulty and where there is a Mental Health Care Plan in place. Psychologists at the practice are able to accept Mental Health Care Plans. Please click here for further information.
For more information please email or call (03) 9481 1944
Your psychologist can only provide you with a valid Medicare receipt (which you will need to claim the rebate) if:
- You are able to provide a Referral letter from your GP that is dated prior to your appointment date and signed by your GP and addressed to your treating psychologist AND
- your GP has completed a Mental Health Care Plan AND
- the person identified on the Mental Health Care Plan attends the session.
- Paediatricians and Psychiatrists can refer to psychologists for Medicare-eligible services. A Mental Health Care Plan is not required; however, you do require a referral letter from your specialist.
Your psychologist can provide you with valid Medicare receipts for up to six sessions (or only as specified if a reduced number has been recommended by the referring practitioner).
If you wish to claim the Medicare rebate for additional sessions, you must attend a review with your GP and provide your psychologist with a letter of approval before, or during, your seventh session. If your Mental Health Care Plan is not reviewed prior to your 7th session, your psychologist cannot issue you with a valid receipt for Medicare.
Chronic Disease Management Plan
A chronic medical condition is one that has been, or is likely to be, present for at least 6 months or is terminal. Anyone with a chronic or terminal medical condition can have a GP Management Plan in place.
If you have a chronic medical condition, your doctor may suggest a GP Management Plan.
The GP Management plan is an agreed plan of action between you and your GP. The plan:
- identifies your health care needs
- sets out the services to be provided by your GP and
- lists the actions that you need to take
If you need treatment from 2 or more health professionals, your doctor may also put a Team Care Arrangement plan in place for you. This lets your doctor work with, and refer you to, at least 2 other health professionals who will provide treatment or services to you.
You may be eligible for Medicare benefits for specific allied health services if your doctor prepares both types of plans for you.
Chronic Disease Management Plan
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
If you are a person with a disability and you meet the access requirements you can become a participant in the scheme. If you do not meet the access requirements, and you live in a launch site, the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) may be able to provide you with information about other supports that could be of benefit to you and assist in referral to these.
It will be necessary to check with your Entelechy clinician to determine if they are registered as a provider with the NDIA. If you have selected to have self-managed funds as part of your NDIS package you may be able to access the services of non registered clinicians at Entelechy, but we encourage you to confirm this with your NDIA case manager before commencing therapy. Payment will need to be made on the day of the appointment with a claim to be submitted by client’s family directly to the NDIS
National Disability Insurance Scheme
Early Childhood Intervention Plan
Helping Children with Autism Funding
Paediatricians and Psychiatrists can refer to psychologists, occupational therapists and speech pathologists for Medicare-eligible services. A Mental Health Care Plan is not required; however, you do require a referral letter. For Autism and other pervasive developmental disorders, there is a Medicare rebate of $84.80 per session for each of the four assessment sessions.
Helping Children with Autism Funding
Private Health
Most private health insurers offer a rebate for psychological services if you have Psychology Extras cover. Some health funds also require a medical referral. Contact your insurer for further information. You can claim rebates directly through your health insurer once a receipt is issued.