Medicare

* Medicare Rebates are available for TeleHealth

Better Access to Mental Health Care

The Federal Government introduced Mental Health Medicare Items on 1 November 2006 that enabled greater access to Psychologists and psychological support services for all Australians.

Every Australian is eligible for a new or renewed Mental Health Care Plan [a GP referral] each Calendar Year that is from 1 January to 31 December annually. A valid and current GP referral is required to claim the medicare rebate.

Click on the link below for more information from Medicare regarding MBS Items covered and the referral process.

ALLIED MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES ATTRACTING MEDICARE REBATES EACH CALENDAR YEAR

This link provides information on the GP MENTAL HEALTH CARE TREATMENT MBS ITEMS 2700, 2701, 2712, 2715 and 2717 and includes an overview of the items, patient and provider eligibility, what activities are involved in providing services rebated by these items, links to other Medicare items and additional claiming information.

The preparation of an initial Mental Health Care Plan is billed using MBS Item numbers 2700, 2701, 2715 and 2717. A review of the Mental Health Care Plan is billed using MBS Item number 2712.

Additional Mental Health Medicare Items

You may be eligible for a Chronic Disease Management Plan which provides Medicare Rebates for up to 5 additional sessions with Allied Health Care Providers, including Psychologists.

MBS Item No. 10968 for Psychology explains more about this service.

Medicare Rebates

Medicare Rebates for Psychological Support under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative are:

  • MBS Item No. 80110 – Session 50+ mins – Individual ‘Focussed Psychological Strategies’ ………….$93.35
  • MBS Item No. 91170 – Session 50+ mins – Telehealth ‘Focussed Psychological Strategies’ …………$93.35
  • MBS Item No. 80122 – Minimum 60 mins – Group ‘Focussed Psychological Strategies’ ……………..$32.45
  • MBS Item No. 80010 – Session 50+ mins – Psychological Therapy ……………………………………$137.05

[MBS Item No. 80010, can only be provided by Psychologists who have a practice endorsement in clinical psychology registered with the Psychology Board of Australia. This endorsement is needed for severe or clinical mental illness management. The higher medicare rebate is available to improve access to support for those individuals coping with extreme mental health conditions.]

CLICK TO SEARCH MBS ONLINE

Medicare Claiming

FOR ONLINE MEDICARE CLAIMS

Visit MEDICARE ONLINE CLAIMING to register.

Online Medicare Claiming is available using your Smart Phone and the Express Plus Medicare App. See below for more details.

RECOMMENDED

FOR SMART PHONE MEDICARE CLAIMS
Your Medicare Receipt is in PDF format. You can find this by clicking on the link in your Medicare Receipt Email and scroll down to the PDF link. You can then save the file, screenshot the page or print to screen then upload to your MyGov account to make your claim.

  1. You will be provided with a Medicare Receipt at the time of your session via email.
  2. You need to register an Online Medicare Claims account
  3. Create your account, go to http://www.my.gov.au. This is an Online Hub that will let you add the different services you are currently using such as Medicare or Centrelink
  4. Get the Express Plus Medicare Smart Phone App and set up with my.gov.au login details from Google Play Store
  5. Now you are all set to claim Psych Services using the App!
  6. Use the SQUARE link to open your Medicare Receipt in PDF format, save or screenshot the file, add your claiming details and submit
  7. Medicare Rebate provided to you within 24-48 Hours

FOR PAPER BASED MEDICARE CLAIMS

  1. You will be provided with a Medicare Receipt at the time of your session via email which you can print out.
  2. You can then post your Medicare Receipt together with your Medicare Claim Form to …

MEDICARE
GPO BOX 9822
MELBOURNE VIC 3000

Download a Medicare Claim Form

FOR IN PERSON MEDICARE CLAIMS

  1. You will be provided with a Medicare Receipt at the time of your session via email which you can print out.
  2. You can then take your Medicare Receipt together with your Medicare Claim Form to your nearest Medicare Service Centre.
  3. Click on the link to find your Local Service Centre