Medicare rebates
In 2006 the Government introduced the ‘Better Access to Mental Health Care’ initiative allowing qualified allied health professionals, such as social workers to accept referrals from GPs to provide ‘focused psychological strategies’ to treat mental health disorders.
As an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker I offer counselling with Medicare rebates if you are referred on a Mental Health Treatment Plan by your GP. Rebates of $82.30 per session are given for 10 sessions per calendar year.
If after 6 sessions you and your GP think you will require more treatment, you will need to see your GP again and ask for a re-referral letter. This will entitle you to a further 4 sessions under Medicare.
More information can be found here:
http://www.health.gov.au/mentalhealth-betteraccess
Any subsequent sessions within the calendar year will incur the full fee.
Please either bring your Medicare card, your debit card (to gain your instant rebate), Mental Health Care Plan and referral letter to your first appointment or have your GP arrange a copy to be faxed to me on fax: 07 3189 6871.