FAQ

How much does Medicare rebate for Psychological Services?

1. $83.25 per session if you see a General Psychologist
   
2. $122.15 per session if you see a Clinical Psychologist
   

Please note that to obtain Medicare rebates you will need to first visit a GP to obtain a Mental Health Care Plan as well as a letter of referral. You can obtain 6 rebated sessions on your first referral and another 4 rebated sessions on your second referral (called a 'review'). Under normal circumstances you can be rebated up to 10 sessions in a calendar year.

It is not a problem if you cannot get a referral from your GP before the first session. It just means you will not get Medicare Rebates for those sessions prior to the referral.

Without a referral can I still see a Psychologist at BlueSky?

Yes. You are welcome to attend BlueSky anytime without a referral.  You only need a referral if you wish to claim Medicare rebates.  Many clients do not use Medicare but prefer to pay the full fee or use Private Health rebates.

How do I obtain Medicare rebates for Psychological services?

Medicare now offers rebates for psychological consultations. You do need however to first visit your General Practitioner (GP) and explain your mental health concerns. It is polite to book a longer consultation with your GP so that they have adequate time to develop a care plan with you. Your GP will give you a document called a “Mental Health Care Plan” and a letter of referral which entitle you to Medicare Rebates. All you need to do is bring these documents to your first consultation at BlueSky Psychology and our staff will organise the rest.

How can I pay for my sessions?

The full fee is to be paid at the end of each session. You may use cash or cheque, or our service offers Eftpos so you can use your savings, cheque or credit accounts. If you are claiming health fund rebates you will only be charged the 'gap' between your rebate and the session cost.

How does Medicare EasyClaim help?

Medicare EasyClaim is a new facility that allows rebates to be lodged at the time of payment. This means your rebate can be directed straight back into your account. For instance, if you pay $175 at the end of your session and you are eligible for Medicare rebates, you can use Medicare EasyClaim to reimburse the $122.15 Medicare rebate immediately back into your nominated account. Alternatively, you are welcome to take your invoices down to your nearest Medicare office and lodge them over the counter.

My Medicare rebate was not accepted at the Medicare office, what happened?

It takes a few days for your GP to inform Medicare that a Mental Health Care Plan has been completed for you, and then for Medicare to add this Medicare item number to your file. In some cases it can take up to week after your GP appointment before Medicare has a record that a plan has been completed. It may be helpful to ring your GP or Medicare to ensure that your referral has been processed. Alternatively, please do not hesitate to contact BlueSky Psychology and our staff will be happy to assist.

What's the difference between a General Psychologist and a Clinical Psychologist under Medicare?

A General Psychologist has completed a four year degree in Psychology and has either completed two years of supervision or has completed a Masters Degree in various psychology streams. A Clinical Psychologist has completed either 6 or 7 years of university training, and has been supervised for a further two years in a range of mental health settings. Clinical Psychologists have specialised training and experience in the assessment, diagnosis and the treatment of mental illness.

What is the difference between a Psychologist and a Psychiatrist?

There are a number of important differences between these two types of mental health professionals. The first is that Psychologists have completed university studies in the understanding of human behaviour, emotion and thought, whereas Psychiatrists have an undergraduate qualification in Medicine. The second difference is that Psychiatrists are able to prescribe medications whereas Psychologists are not licenced to do so.

Psychologists treat mental health issues with thought and behavioural techniques, such as thought analysis, thought restructuring, skills training, education, lifestyle adjustment, exercise, goal setting, problem-solving and making positive environmental changes. Psychiatrists are particularly helpful when medications are required, such as with psychotic disorders, bipolar disorders or when the presenting illness has organic pathologies, for example, in cases of dementia.

Should I take medication for my concern?

There is a growing body of scientific evidence indicating that medication should be the front line of intervention in a few specific mental illnesses. For example, Bipolar Disorder and the varying types of psychoses are best treated with medication.

Having said that, the answer depends on your symptoms and the levels of severity you are experiencing. There is a wide range of non-pharmacological interventions that have also been scientifically demonstrated to be effective in treating depression, anxiety, panic, addictions and stress, to name a few. Clinical Psychologists can provide you with information and guidance in these matters, as they have completed some post-graduate training at University in Psychopharmacology, and are very experienced in observing the possible therapeutic benefits and side effects of medications. Psychologists based in Australia cannot prescribe medication but they can provide you with information, explain all of your options and point you in the right direction.

It is very important to appreciate that the choice of medication versus therapy is not mutually exclusive. Just because you may be already taking an antidepressant does not mean you would not benefit from therapy. Conversely, if you prefer in the first instance to use thought and behavioural therapies this does not necessarily mean you should not consider using a medication as an adjunct if it is needed. Many clients have found relief from their struggles by utilising a combination of psychological therapy and medication.

What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?

This is a form of “talk” therapy that involves learning thought and behavioural strategies to better manage emotions. Strategies used in this form of therapy include: understanding your emotional experience, noticing your thoughts, observing your thought patterns, evaluating the accuracy of your thoughts, and then either problem-solving or restructuring these thoughts.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) has been shown to be very effective in treating depression (particularly mild to moderate episodes) and a range of anxiety concerns. Many clients prefer CBT over medication because they are concerned about becoming dependent upon antidepressants, as they are worried about the aversive side effects of medication and because they are concerned they will relapse once they have stopped medication. The skills in CBT are easy to learn and our Psychologists will provide you with all the support you need, so that you can take these skills into the rest of your life.