Specialising in Child, Adolescent & Family Issues

Cognitive Behaviour Therapists

MEDICARE & REFERRALS

All registered psychologists are now endorsed under Medicare Australia. This means that a lot of services provided by a psychologist can be rebated through Medicare but only if a referral including the completion of a Mental Health Care Plan is done by a GP.

Please discuss this with your GP if you want to see a psychologist or have been advised to see one. If you are referred you are entitled to 6 sessions. If you require more, you will have to return to your GP (after the GP has received a letter from your psychologist) for a further referral whereby you will receive a further 6 sessions.

If after 12, it seems that you require a further 6 because of circumstances considered exceptional by your psychologist , you will be asked to return to your GP for a further referral. Therefore usually a maximum of 12 sessions claimable under Medicare can be received for the calendar year, but under exceptional circumstances 18.

You are not restricted by the number of sessions if you pay privately.

Referrals are only necessary if you want access through Medicare. If you can pay privately you are not limited to the number of sessions you can receive. If you are covered for psychology by your Health Insurance you will receive a rebate from them.