Medicare - Better Access to Mental Health Care Program

Under Medicare's Better Access to Mental Health Care Program Clinical Social Workers can provide approved focused psychological strategies and psychological therapies for a broad range of commonly experienced mental health problems including depression, anxiety, panic, bipolar, phobias, substance issues, eating disorders, sleep problems, grief, loss and trauma related conditions.

Referrals under Medicare

To be referred under Medicare you will need to be assessed by your General Practitioner (GP) and if they assess it is appropriate, a GP Mental Health Care Plan will be provided.

Number of Sessions

Under the Better Access to Mental Health Care Program, people may be eligible for a rebate for up to ten individual counselling sessions, in a calendar year. Medicare requires that you and your GP periodically review (every four to six sessions) how you are progressing with treatment.

Eligible clients can receive:

• A rebate of $74.80 per session