Get an appointment

To access Medicare subsidised support you'll need to get a valid referral from a valid referrer and a mental health treatment plan from your General Practitioner (GP).   

Who is a valid referrer?

You can obtain a referral from one of the following valid referrers:

• your usual General Practitioner (GP) with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (sometimes called a Mental Health Care Plan)
• A Psychiatrist
• A Paediatrician

(Note: the review and referral requirements outlined below apply regardless of whether the referral was issued by a GP, psychiatrist or paediatrician)

What is a valid referral?

A valid referral needs to contain the following:

• patient's name
• patient's date of birth
• patient's address
• the patient's symptoms or diagnosis
• the number of treatment services the patient needs to receive
• a statement confirming whether the patient has:

                  - a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (GP MHTP) - sometimes referred to as a Mental

                    Health Care Plan (GP MHCP);

                  - a shared care plan; or

                  - a psychiatrist assessment and management plan

The referral should be addressed to Get Psych'd.

How long is a referral valid for?

Referrals generally specify the number of treatment sessions approved for that course of treatment. Where a referral does not clearly specify the number of sessions, or contains information that is inconsistent with Medicare requirements, we may need to contact the referring practitioner to clarify the referral before services can continue. 

Medicare rebates are available for up to 10 individual psychological appointments per calendar year.

You can't get a referral for all sessions in one go. A referral can only be for a maximum of 6 sessions. At the completion of each referral (eg. at the completion of your first 6 appointments), your referring practitioner must review your progress and determine whether further treatment is clinically appropriate. If further treatment is recommended, a new referral will be required before additional Medicare-subsidised sessions can be provided.

A subsequent referral may be for up to 6 sessions, provided the total number of Medicare-subsidised individual psychology sessions received during the calendar year does not exceed the annual cap of 10.

Do I have to monitor the number of sessions used in the year?

We track the number of sessions you've used in the calendar year, and this will be noted on the invoice/receipt for each appointment. When you've used the last session on a referral, we will generally provide an email to notify you a new referral is required. 

At the completion of a referral, your clinician will provide a progress report to your referring practitioner. Your GP or specialist will then review your progress and determine whether a further referral is appropriate.  

It may be useful for you to monitor how many sessions you have left on a referral, particularly if it is difficult to get an appointment with your GP, to avoid any interruptions to your therapy.

Do I need to get a new referral each year?

No. If you reach the maximum number of sessions allowed in a calendar year during a referral period, the remaining sessions on the referral can be utilised in the following calendar year. These services will count towards the annual cap for that year.  

Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions are subject to an annual cap of 10 individual sessions per calendar year. Unused sessions do not carry over to the next calendar year.

What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

A MHTP is a plan for people with a mental health disorder. The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and your GP have agreed you are aiming to achieve. 

How to get a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

Visit your usual GP who will assess whether you have a mental health disorder and will benefit from a MHTP. 

Your GP will ask you a few questions, fill in the plan and you will set goals together. When you make a booking, ask if a long appointment - 20 minutes or more - is needed. 

How often do I need to get a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

A MHTP does not expire. You will only require a new MHTP if your needs or diagnosis changes significantly. 

Is the Medicare subsidy available for appointments with all clinicians at Get Psych'd?

No. The Medicare subsidy is only available when you see a Registered Psychologist, under a valid referral and MHTP. 

Medicare subsidies are not available on psychological services provided by a Provisional Psychologist or low-cost teen counselling. 

How much is the Medicare subsidy?

The Medicare subsidies vary depending on the length of the session. 

For a standard consultation (50 minutes) the current subsidy is $98.95. 

How does the claim process work?

As part of your intake documentation you'll be asked to provide your Medicare details. 

It is important to ensure you provide the correct details as Get Psych'd will process the Medicare subsidy/rebate for you on your behalf. 

After each session, you will be charged the full consultation fee as per our Fees Schedule. 

Get Psych'd will process the Medicare claim on your behalf. You will receive a copy of your Medicare Statement of Claim and Benefit Payment via email. Once this has been approved by Medicare you will receive your applicable Medicare rebate via your payment method listed with Medicare.