Medicare Rebates for Psychological Services

The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative

Medicare rebates for psychology services are available under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative.
The scheme provides considerable rebates allowing greater access to psychologists and more affordable mental health care.

Information for Patients

The Better Access initiative covers people with a range of  clinically diagnosable disorders including:

  • Anxiety disorders
  • Panic disorder
  • Adjustment disorder
  • Attention deficit disorder
  • Bereavement disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Conduct disorder
  • Drug use disorder
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Co-occurring anxiety and depression
  • Depression
  • Eating disorders
  • Sleep problems
  • Phobic disorder
  • Posttraumatic stress
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Sexual disorders
  • Alcohol use disorder

Dementia, delirium, tobacco use disorder and mental retardation are not regarded as mental disorders for the purposes of this initiative.

If you are an existing private client, discuss your eligibility for Medicare Rebates with your psychologist.

To get a rebate under the Better Access initiative you need an appropriate referral from a GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician. A referral from a GP must be accompanied by a Mental Health Care Plan. Psychiatrists and paediatricians can directly refer patients and are not required to develop a specific mental health care plan.

If you plan on seeking a referral from your GP under the Better Access program, it’s a good idea to:

  • When you make an appointment, advise that you are seeking a referral to a psychologist and would like to discuss getting a Mental Health Care Plan
  • Book a longer consultation to allow time to talk about your issues and develop a Mental Health Care Plan
  • Refer your GP to this web page, which has details on making a Referral to Ahead Psychology on the back of it.

You are entitled to ask your doctor for a general referral to Ahead Psychology (addressed to ‘The Psychologist’ or ‘Dear Psychologist’) or to a specific psychologist at Ahead Psychology.

Under the Better Access program you can receive up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year.

Your referring doctor will assess your progress after 6 sessions

In response to the COVID pandemic an additional 10 in-person MBS mental health sessions per year will be available until 30 June 2022.

An additional 10 Better Access services performed by telehealth or phone will be available until 30 June 2021.

Yes, in most cases, Medicare Rebates can be processed on the spot, with the funds transferred directly into your bank account.

You cannot use your private health insurance ancillary cover to top up the Medicare rebates for these services.

You can use one or the other, but not both.

If you are an existing private client, discuss your eligibility for Medicare Rebates with your psychologist.

Information for Doctors

We are a group of psychologists in private practice in North Brisbane.

We have a strong reputation for providing high-quality, evidence-based counselling services to people suffering from a range of mental health problems causing emotional, behavioural and interpersonal difficulties.

All of our psychologists are registered with the Psychology Board of Australia, Medicare, private health funds and Workcover.

Our psychologists provide counselling for children, adolescents, adults and couples.

We have expertise in the treatment of common mental health problems and related issues that people typically present with to their doctor.

These include:

  • Depression
  • Stress management
  • Adjustment disorders
  • Grief & Loss
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Low self-esteem
  • Psychological recovery from accidents, injury or illness

To make a referral please:

  • Prepare a referral letter for your patient. The referral can be to a specific psychologist or a general referral to Ahead Psychology. For general referrals we will match your patient with the psychologist who is best able to meet their needs.
  • Fax the referral letter to Ahead Psychology on 3352 7793. Please note in the letter if it is a Medicare Better Access to Mental Health Care referral and send the mental health care plan.
  • Ask your patient to call Ahead Psychology on 3352 3577 to book.

If we receive your referral letter before your patient has called we will contact them to set up their first appointment.

We will confirm your patient’s attendance at their first appointment and send you progress reports and updates as required.

We value working collaboratively with Doctors because we know this helps to achieve better treatment outcomes for your patients.

  • We will communicate with you about your patient’s treatment progress and attendance.
  • We are highly experienced psychologists and treat a range of mental health problems.
  • We are driven by patient satisfaction and use this to ensure we deliver outstanding counselling services.
Medicare Rebates for Psychology Services

We process Medicare & Private Health Insurance rebates on the spot

For more information visit the Department of Health website

If you think you might benefit from the expert help of a psychologist, please call us on Brisbane (07) 3352 3577 or fill out our Request a Booking form