Medicare rebates are available for psychological treatment by registered psychologists under the Australian Government's Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. This provides considerable assistance to people living with mental health problems, allowing them greater access to psychologists - providing more affordable mental healthcare.

Under this initiative, eligible people can access Medicare benefits for Psychology services. Eligible people can receive a REBATE for up to 10 individual and up to 10 group mental health services each CALENDAR YEAR.

To be eligible to receive psychological services under Medicare, a person must be referred by his or her GP.

The rebate is available to people with a diagnosed mental disorder. A diagnosed mental disorder means your GP will assess you and determine the severity and impact of your current stressors, challenges and mental health. GP’s commonly refer patients where life circumstances have created significant stress relating to depression and anxiety. The first step is to talk to your GP and discuss whether treatment under Better Access is suitable for your needs. Your GP will determine if you would benefit from focused psychology services to support you back to good mental health.

Speak to your GP about your eligibility to claim these Medicare benefits to see us here for Psychology services.

1. Talk to your GP. To access the Medicare rebate you must be referred by your GP. The GP will prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan before referring you to a psychologist. If you qualify, your GP will prepare a referral letter to Psychologist Dr Cory Middleton (of Relationship-Talk Pty Ltd).

2. Forward this referral letter to cory@relationship-talk.com.au along with a request to make a booking.

3. At your session with Dr Cory Middleton, you will pay the full fee. Your receipt will have specific details about your referring doctor, Dr Cory Middleton and the specific Medicare Item numbers pertaining to the Better Access Mental Health Care initiative.

4. You take your receipt to Medicare who will provide your Rebate (e.g. currently, Medicare provide approximately $93.35 rebate for a session lasting longer than 50-minutes)

Psychologists providing services under Medicare set their own fees but the Medicare rebate for each item is a defined amount, set by the Government. (Note: Currently for FY24, the Medicare rebate for sessions longer than 50 mins is $93.35)

Paying the FULL amount is the responsibility of the client.  Eligible clients then claim a Medicare rebate by lodging a claim through Medicare. Note: pay the full amount of the consultation and use their detailed receipt to claim a Medicare rebate.

'Mental disorder' is a term used to describe a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly impact on a person's emotions, thoughts, social skills and decision-making. The Better Access initiative covers people with mental disorders arising from:

• Alcohol use disorder

• Adjustment disorder

• Attention deficit disorder

• Bereavement disorder

• Bipolar disorder

• Chronic fatigue

• Conduct disorder

• Co-occurring anxiety and depression

• Depression

• Dissociative disorder

• Drug use disorder

• Eating disorders

• Enuresis

• Generalised anxiety disorder

• Mental disorder, not otherwise specified

• Obsessive compulsive disorder

• Panic disorder

• Phobic disorder

• Posttraumatic stress disorder

• Psychotic disorders

• Schizophrenia

• Sexual disorders

• Sleep problems

• Unexplained somatic complaints