Medicare Rebates for Psychology

How to Access a Medicare Psychologist in Melbourne

To access Medicare rebates for psychological services at Mindview Psychology, follow these steps:

1. Visit Your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan
To be eligible for Medicare rebates, you’ll first need a referral through a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP, psychiatrist, or pediatrician. During your appointment, discuss your mental health concerns, and your doctor can assess your needs and refer you to a Medicare psychologist for ongoing support.

2. Book an Appointment with Mindview Psychology
With your Mental Health Care Plan, you can schedule an appointment with one of our Melbourne psychologists to begin your journey toward improved well-being. We’ll work with you to create a personalized treatment plan that addresses your unique mental health goals.

3. Receive Medicare Rebates on Psychology Sessions
Medicare rebates are available for up to 10 sessions per calendar year for those with a valid Mental Health Care Plan. For each session, a portion of the fee will be covered by Medicare, reducing your out-of-pocket expenses. At Mindview Psychology, we provide support to help you make the most of your available rebates and ensure a smooth process.

Medicare Schemes for Psychology

Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative

This is the most common initiative our Medicare psychologists we work with. The Better Access Initiative enables people with an assessed mental disorder to access up to 10 individual services AND up to 10 group therapy services per calendar year.

To access these rebates with a Medicare psychologist you need to have a GP or specialist-prepared Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) as well as a referral from your GP for a course of treatment (up to six sessions). Once your MHTP is in place, your GP can continue to provide you with referrals for subsequent courses of treatment (up to 6 sessions) indefinitely, however, you may only claim 10 rebates per calendar year.

Chronic Disease Management (CDM)

People who have a chronic disease and complex care needs can access up to 5 individual services per calendar year for the management of a diagnosed chronic disease.

To access CDM services, your GP needs to create a GP Management Plan (GPMP) or Team Care Arrangement (TCA). Medicare states that psychological treatment under the Chronic Disease Management Scheme needs to be focused on the management of a chronic disease, not a psychological disorder unless your GP has made the clinical decision and confirms in writing that the psychological disorder qualifies as a chronic disease.

Eating Disorder Services (EDP)

If you are living with a diagnosed eating disorder you can receive up to 40 psychological sessions with a Medicare psychologist in a 12-month period under an Eating Disorder Plan (EDP). EDP’s use The Stepped Model which means that the EDP must be reviewed by your medical practitioner once the initial course of treatment (10 sessions) is completed, and also after each subsequent course of treatment (10 sessions).

When the EDP expires after 12 months, you will need a new EDP to continue to access psychological services under this scheme.

Medicare Psychologist Referral Requirements

To claim MHTP, CDM and EDP services with a Medicare Psychologist, you must provide us with a valid referral letter from your GP. The date shown on the referral is the date you are eligible to receive rebates. Rebates cannot be back-dated for sessions that have been completed before the date of the referral.