Below is not a full list, but some of the more common funding options.
Unique Brains also has a payment plan option clients whereby you can pay by instalments. However, full payment must be made prior to receiving any assessment results or report.
This is where you pay the full cost of the service. This is usually done without a Health Professional referral and is not covered by private health insurance. It can be conducted as private assessment and treatment. The advantage with this method is that there is no limit with the number of times you may see a Psychologist.
You may have access to Private Health Insurance which can cover some or all of the cost involved. You would need to contact your health insurer to determine if your policy covers psychology services, and how you can access this cover.
Specialist referrals from a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist are the preferred method of referral.
Another method is to obtain a referral from a General Practitioner who will also issue a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP).
A MHCP is part of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (Better Access) initiative and involves the following process:
Medicare rebates do not cover the full cost of service, and a gap fee will apply.
How a MHCP works:
Your Doctor provides an initial referral for 6 sessions of therapy with a Medicare rebate.
At the completion of 6 sessions, the Psychologist would then provide the referring Doctor with a written letter commenting on the progress made.
After this 6 sessions, you need to make an appointment with the referring Doctor to review the progress made. The Doctor may then allow for a further 4 sessions and provide you with a new referral letter.
Once all 10 sessions have been completed, the Psychologist will complete another review letter for your Doctor to determine whether ongoing treatment may be required.
A MHCP permits a maximum of 10 psychology sessions per calendar year. MHCPs with unused sessions can carry over into the next calendar year. However, these unused sessions will be counted towards the 10 session psychology allowance for the new calendar year.
A rebate cannot be claimed for an appointment dated before the MHCP issue date.
Please present all referrals to reception prior to the initial appointment with the Psychologist.
The MHCP will be registered through Medicare under you, or your child’s name – therefore, it is necessary that you or your child attend the practice for every session for the MHCP Medicare rebate to be claimed.
Assessments are not usually covered by the MHCP and an alternate payment method will be required.
A Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP) entitles a client with a chronic/complex medical illness a referral for up to 5 session per calendar year with a range of allied health professionals as determined by your GP, and may include a Psychologist.
A CDMP can only be accessed through a GP, as Paediatricians cannot issue CDMP's.
The process is similar to acquiring a MHCP but there is no session review period with the GP for the CDMP.
NDIS Plan Managed Participants:
Following your consultation, invoices will be emailed directly to your Plan Manager for payment. Please provide reception with the details of your Plan Manager, any invoicing requirements, and your NDIS participant number prior to attending your first session.
Full payment is required at the time of your appointment, and a receipt will be emailed to you to claim directly through your NDIS portal.
Unique Brains does not currently work with NDIS Managed Participants.