Medicare changes: Increase in rebatable sessions for psychology

Laura Park, Practice Manager

The COVID-19 Pandemic has seen us all wrestling with changes to the way we live our lives and how we connect in our communities.  We have all had to adapt quickly to rules and restrictions quite beyond our control.  Many families are juggling reduction or loss of employment with the added pressure of kids learning from home.

It is hardly surprising that these circumstances have resulted in additional stress and anxiety levels, and an increased need for psychological support.

We are grateful that the Government have acknowledged the need for this additional support and have announced measures to ensure that people can continue to access rebated sessions with their psychologist beyond the existing ten rebated sessions through the Better Access to Mental Health Scheme.
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As of Friday 7 August, clients who have already accessed ten rebated psychology sessions after completing a Mental Health Treatment Plan with their GP and receiving a referral to Hopscotch and Harmony can return to their doctor to request a review and a re-referral for an additional ten rebated sessions.  This will help our clients to continue to work towards their therapy goals with that financial assistance from Medicare.

What do you need to do to make this happen?

If you currently have a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP)

• You don’t have to do anything until you reach your tenth rebated session (your clinician can keep you determine how many sessions you have used so far)
• At your tenth session, you will discuss future treatment plans with your clinician.  They will write to your referring GP, either to advise that you have finished treatment for now or that further sessions would be beneficial and to request a review and re-referral.
• Following your tenth session, you should make an appointment with your GP to complete a review of your MHTP and ask them to fax the re-referral directly to H&H so that we can update your file prior to your next session.

If you have already exhausted your ten rebated sessions for 2020

• you should make an appointment with your GP any time after 7 August to complete a review of your MHTP and ask them to fax the re-referral directly to H&H so that we can update your file prior to your next session.

At Hopscotch and Harmony we are committed to supporting our clients to reach their therapy goals and to emerge from this most unusual time with increased resilience, insight and skills to thrive in the next chapter of their lives! 

If you would like to book an appointment please click here