Rebated Access to a Psychologist for Those Living in Rural Areas

On 1 November 2017, the Better Access initiative was expanded to include telehealth consultations to improve access to mental health services for people in regional, rural and remote Australia.

A telehealth service is a psychological therapy service that is delivered via video conference where both a visual and audio link has been established between a patient and their treating allied health professional. Telehealth services can be delivered by psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists that are registered with Medicare.

Eligible patients are required to have a Mental Health Treatment Plan and be located in a rural and remote area, namely, Modified Monash Model areas 4-7. To find out if you are located in an eligible area, please visit the MMM locator (click here), select the ‘MMM classification’ and enter the location.

Who is eligible:

Anyone suffering with a mental health disorder.

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. This includes patients with mental disorders arising from:

• Bipolar disorder
• Phobic disorders
• Anxiety disorder
• Adjustment disorder
• Depression
• Sexual disorders
• Conduct disorders
• Bereavement disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder
• Eating disorders
• Panic disorder
• Alcohol use disorders
• Drug use disorders
• Sleep problems
• Attention deficit disorder
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
• Co-occurring anxiety and depression

What you need to do BEFORE you call the Australian Menopause Centre to make an appointment with Christina.

Visit your local GP and request a BETTER ACCESS GENERAL PRACTIONER MENTAL HEALTH CARE PLAN. You may be required to do this over 2 appointments as the session with the GP must be Mental health focused only. This enables you to an initial 6 sessions with a registered psychologist, a further 4 sessions can be issued depending on circumstances. This is valid for a calendar year.

The mental health care plan must be addressed to

1. Christina Gilto – Registered Psychologist
2. Must have your full name, address, date of birth and Medicare number
3. Must state ‘for telehealth mental health services’
4. Must have GP provider number, signature and date.

Without a Better Access General Practitioner Mental Health Care Plan, Christina is unable to offer a Medicare rebate. If you would like a consultation as a private patient this can also be arranged.

Sessions are $110 which is to be paid upon booking. A rebate of $86.15 is offered by the psychologist once the session is complete. You can either request a receipt which will enable you to lodge your claim with Medicare, or the psychologist can lodge it for you (as long as you have your bank details registered with Medicare).

Telehealth conference is available via Viber and WhatsApp and are by appointment only

For further information please click here.