Medicare – services provided by psychologists

The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative introduced new mental health Medicare items on 1 November 2006. These items enable people with diagnosed mental disorders to access services from a range of mental health services providers, including psychologists. There are two categories of Medicare items that can be provided by psychologists: one for psychologists and the other for clinical psychologists. Clinical psychology items can only be provided by clinical psychology practitioners who have been assessed as eligible by the APS.

• Information for clients
• The mental health Medicare items for psychologists 
• How to apply to provide psychological services under Medicare 
• How to obtain a Medicare Provider Number 
• How to bill for services provided 
• Frequently Asked Questions 
• Background information  
• Further information 
• Glossary of terms

New non-directive pregnancy support counselling Medicare items also became available on 1 November 2006 to assist women who are concerned about a pregnancy. These services can be provided by eligible GPs, and eligible psychologists, social workers and mental health nurses on referral from a GP. Health professionals providing this service under Medicare must have completed mandatory training in non-directive pregnancy support counselling.  

• Non-directive pregnancy support counselling Medicare items
• Mandatory training in non-directive pregnancy support counselling 
• How to obtain a Medicare Provider Number 
• How to bill for services provided
• Pregnancy support Medicare item update

Psychologists involved in the provision of multidisciplinary interventions for children and families of children with ASD/PDD can now apply to be on a panel of early intervention service providers. This is the second arm of the new Helping Children with Autism package and is separate from the new ASD/PDD Medicare items. For more information, please click here, and see your metropolitan and major regional newspapers on July 19 and 26. 

New Medicare items are available from 1 July 2008 for the diagnosis and early intervention treatment of children with autism or any other pervasive developmental disorder (PDD). These items apply to services provided by eligible psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists, on referral from a consultant psychiatrist or paediatrican. The Medicare items cover two specific types of services - assessment services and treatment services.

• Assessment services (psychology) Medicare item
• Treatment services (psychology) Medicare item
• How to obtain a Medicare Provider Number
• How to bill for services provided
• Further information

The Medicare Allied Health and Dental Care initiative (previously known as 'MedicarePlus') commenced in July 2004 to provide Medicare rebates for allied health services delivered for the management of a chronic disease, including those services provided by psychologists. The chronic disease management Medicare items can only be provided to people with chronic conditions and complex care needs who are being managed by a GP under an Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) plan.

• Information for clients  
• Psychology chronic disease management Medicare items 
• How to obtain a Medicare Provider Number 
• How to bill for services provided 
• Frequently Asked Questions
• Further information