Before you make an appointment it is important to understand the following:
Medicare rebates are available for psychological services that are provided under a Mental Health Care Plan, under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This Plan is completed by a General Practitioner (GP) and provides access to Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year.
1. You need first visit your GP and explain your mental health concerns to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan and subsequent referral to a psychologist. It is important to book a longer consultation with your GP so that they have adequate time to develop a care plan with you.
2. Please ensure your letter of referral and Mental Health Care Plan has been forwarded to Dr Sandra Henderson & Associates prior to your first consultation with the psychologist.
3. If a referral is made by a Psychiatrist or Paediatrician, a referral letter rather than a Mental Health Care Plan is required.
4. Eligibility for the full 10 session Medicare rebates is contingent on the patient returning to the medical practitioner for a Review of their progress after six psychological therapy sessions.
6. Medicare rebates may be claimed at our practice on the day of your consultation through the Medicare Easyclaim system (Eftpos machine).
7. The client is responsible for paying for the whole cost of the consultation then the Medicare Rebate is returned via Easyclaim and any out-of-pocket costs will count towards the Medicare Safety Net for that client.
8. In some instances, a psychologist may choose to bulk bill (i.e., age pensioners, Centrelink benefits recipients, concession holders), in which case the client will not have to pay any additional fees. This is up to the psychologists discretion.