1.2 For General Practitioners
I would like to introduce myself as a provider of psychological services in New Farm, Brisbane. You will be aware that with the changes to MedicarePlus it is possible to refer patients to a psychologist under the Better Access initiative.
How to refer your patients for psychological services with the benefit of a Medicare rebate?
On 1 November 2006, the Australian Government introduced new Medicare items for psychological treatment by registered psychologists. This service provides considerable assistance to people living with issues of mental well being.
As a Medicare eligible provider of Psychological Services, I can provide psychological support to your patienst for whom you have completed a Mental Health Plan and referred under Medicare Item 2710. This allows for rebates over six sessions of counselling after which I will provide you with a progress report. If ongoing support is required, then you can, at your discretion, approve further services under Item 2712. The mental health plan needs to be registered with Medicare before the patient sees me in order that they receive the rebate.
Under this initiative, I can assist people who are having difficulty controlling their emotions, thoughts and behaviour, including those with mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, adjustment disorders, and stress or acute truama responses, addictive behaviours and childhood behaviour disorders. Whilst I work with post traumatic stress, if the presentation is complex involving high levels of self harm or psychosis, patients should be referred to Community Mental Health.
When your patients have attended you for the evaluation and referral, they can phone 07 33586411 and make an appointment and bring the paperwork (the plan) with them at the first appointment OR they can make their appointment in person and leave the paperwork OR you can fax us the paperwork and the client can make the appointment by phone or in person.
WE DO NOT CONTACT CLIENTS TO MAKE IINITIAL APPOINTMENTS, as many clients appear to be in the Contemplation Stage of change when they first receive a GP referral and then make the booking after a short period which may reflect them move to Preparation stage of change. It would not be clinically helpful to hurry them through this process.
SHOULD YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT A PATIENT FOR ANY REASON, please contact our office and I will attempt to engage with client prior to them making an appointment, but this is not standard practise at this stage of our service development.
I can process on site, the rebate to minimise the period of being out of pocket. The gap expense is $41.60.
I will negotiate in advance of the first session, to bulk bill only those individual who rely solely on government income support.
I will not bulk bill pensioners with spouses or work, purely because I work to eat and I need to cover practice costs before I can do that. To this end, I would be most grateful if you wouldplease support my willingness to work with those who need bulk billing services, by referring a balance of bulk billing and fee paying clients.
PLEASE NOTE: Whilst I enjoy working with more complex mental illness and personalities, and get satisfying results, I have found that private practise is not the best context for high supports needs of these clients. I would ask that you refer these clients to the nearest Departments of Community Mental Health.
Full Page http://www.sheleaghwhitecounselling.com/Medicare_Fact_Sheet2.htm
