Information regarding rebates

Medicare Rebates

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In November 2006, the Government introduced a system whereby clients can claim a rebate through Medicare for consultations with a psychologist.

 

A Mental Health Care Plan can be organised when a general practitioner (GP), a paediatrician or a psychiatrist believes his/her patient would benefit from sessions with a psychologist.

 

In order to claim this rebate, a Mental Health Care Plan must be obtained from your GP prior to attending an appointment at the Progressive Steps Intervention clinic.

When making the appointment with your GP’s receptionist, please remember to mention that you would like the GP to initiate a Mental Health Care Plan, and ask for a longer consultation. If the sessions with the psychologist are for your child, please make sure that you bring along your child to the appointment. If your GP agrees to initiate a Mental Health Care Plan, the item number to be put on the plan is MBS Item Number 2715. If you have a Mental Health Care Plan previously, then the review item number is 2712.

A copy of the Mental Health Care Plan (or a letter from the GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician advising that they have initiated a Mental Health Care Plan) must be brought with you to your first appointment at Progressive Steps Intervention clinic.

The Mental Health Care Plan will enable you to claim Medicare rebates for a maximum of 10 visits per year. After a certain number of sessions (e.g., after session 4, 5, 6 or 10), the psychologist will send a brief letter to the referring medical professional to inform them about the progress of the client. Your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist may like to see you and your child (if applicable) before they will renew the Mental Health Care Plan for further sessions with the psychologist.

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Important
If you like to obtain Medicare rebates, it will be up to you to ensure that the Mental Health Care Plan has been activated by your GP before your appointment with the psychologist. It is also your responsibility to keep track of the number of psychology sessions that you have claimed from Medicare. The mental health care plan is only valid for 12 months from the date of referral and needs to be renewed by your GP, paediatrician or psychiatrist.

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