Consultation Fees
Payment is by cash, cheque, credit card or eftpos.Individual sessions are $150 per hour. Couple sessions are $180 per hour. Initial assessment sessions for couples cost $210 for a one and a half hour session - it takes longer to assess two people!
If you are a member of a private health fund, you may be able to claim a rebate for psychological services. The exact amount of the rebate will depend upon your level of cover, and the rebate varies between health funds.
Medicare Rebates for Psychology ServicesAt long last, the Government has introduced new Medicare items for psychological treatment by registered psychologists. Under the new scheme, you can receive a substantial rebate from Medicare for psychological treatment, which makes seeing a psychologist much more affordable.
All Self Essentials psychologists have a Medicare Provider number, which means they are eligible to participate in the Medicare initiative. Self Essentials psychologists are experts in cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), an evidence-based psychological treatment which is effective for a wide range of psychological disorders.
How do I register for the Medicare Rebate?
In order to participate in the Medicare initiative, you will need to
see your GP first to be assessed. You can ask your GP to refer you to a
Self Essentials psychologist - ask for who you want by name. The GP
will then register you with Medicare and will initially refer you to
the psychologist for six sessions. After the six sessions, you will be
reviewed by your GP, and you will then be eligible for a further six
psychological treatment sessions.
Who can make the referral for me to see a psychologist?
Your GP, a psychiatrist, or a pediatrician can all make a referral for you to see a Self Essentials
psychologist.
How many sessions am I entitled to?
In total, eligible people can generally receive:
- Up to 12 individual services in a calendar year. Your referring doctor will assess your progress after the first 6 sessions. Provisions exist for people to receive additional services in exceptional circumstances (exceptional circumstances are identified by the referring doctor).
- Up to 12 group therapy services in a calendar year where such services are available.
Medicare define eligibility for the scheme by identifying if the individual is experiencing one of a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly impact on a person's emotions, thoughts, social skills, and decision making.
The following are some examples of the range of issues which are eligible under the Medicare scheme:
| - Phobias | - Unexplained somatic complaints |
| - Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD) | - Depression |
| - Adjustment disorder | - Post natal depression |
| - Sexual disorders | - Mixed anxiety and depression |
| - Eating disorders (bulimia) | - Binge Eating Disorder |
| - Bereavement disorder | - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) |
| - Panic disorder | - Alcohol use disorders |
| - Drug use disorders | - Sleep problems |
| - Obsessive compulsive disorder | - Mental disorder not otherwise specified |
Note: Dementia, delirium, tobacco use disorders, and mental retardation are not covered by the Medicare items. Couple therapy is currently not covered by Medicare rebates.
How much money per session do I get back from Medicare?
Medicare will reimburse you either $75 or $110 for each session,
depending on which psychologist you see. At the end of the session
you will need to pay the psychologist the full amount ($150), then take
your receipt in to Medicare and claim the rebate. This means your total
out of pocket cost for each session is either $75, or $40.
| Self Essentials Individual Session Cost (60 mins) | Medicare Rebate | Cost to You |
|---|---|---|
| $150 | $75 or $110 (depending on the psychologist you see) |
$75 or $40 |
Does the Medicare Safety Net apply to my out-of-pocket expenses under this initiative?
Yes. You are responsible for paying any charges in excess of the Medicare rebate for items under
this initiative. However, these out-of-pocket expenses will count towards the Medicare Safety Net.
The family-based Safety Net protects high users of health services from big out of pocket expenses. This covers the difference between the Medicare rebates and the schedule fee for families who exceed a threshold level of payments in a year, but not for charges that are above the schedule fee.
What about my private health insurance?
You cannot use your private health insurance ancillary cover to top up the Medicare rebates for
psychological services.
You need to decide if you will use Medicare or your private health insurance ancillary cover to pay for psychological services. It may be a good idea to call your private health insurer to see how much money per session they will rebate you for psychological services. Also ask them if there is a cap on how many services per year you are able to claim for.
How do I find out more information about this initiative?
For more detailed information on the Allied Mental Health Professional Medicare Items, please go
to www.health.gov.au or call Medicare Australia 132 150.