REBATES & FEES

Sessions run for 50 minutes.

The fee is $260 for a general psychologist and $300 for a clinical psychologist.

There is a 10% surcharge for appointments from 5:00 pm.

Medicare rebates are available with a Mental Health Care Plan (see more information below):

• General registration rebate: $96.65 (out of pocket fee $163.35)

• Clinical registration rebate: $141.85 (out of pocket fee $158.15)

Session format available: Face-to-face or Telehealth

Please note: Medicare does not cover you while you are overseas.

We are currently at capacity for reduced fee and bulk-billed clients, including third-party or plan-managed invoicing.

Here are a list of alternative services.

Sessions run for 50 minutes.

The fee is $320 for a relationship psychologist and $300 for a relationship counsellor.

There is a 10% surcharge for appointment times from 5:00 pm.

No Medicare rebates are available for relationship sessions.

Format: Face-to-face or Telehealth.

• Debriefing about a distressing experience

• Identifying some short-term coping strategies until longer-term treatment is available

• Accessing some useful resources

• Sessions are 50 mins - $200

• Medicare rebate available

• Not available for relationship sessions

• A mental health care plan (MHCP) is a support plan for someone to address mental health concerns. 

• Your GP prepares a MHCP with you in an appointment with treatment recommendations - this can include attending sessions with a psychologist. 

• Medicare (the government) funds a ‘rebate’ for psychology sessions. When you receive a MHCP you are eligible for a rebate.

• You need a MHCP to be eligible for rebate. Your MHCP will specify the number of sessions you will be able to receive a rebate for.

• Once you have paid for and attended a session with a psychologist, you can then submit a request to Medicare for a rebate.

• At SHIPS, we submit the request on your behalf.

• Rebates are paid (by Medicare) into your nominated bank account.

• This mean you will pay fee to SHIPS for the session, receive a rebate from Medicare, and you will only be ‘out of pocket’ for the difference between the full fee and the rebate (For example if the session is $260, and your receive a rebate for $96.65, the out of pocket fee will be $163.35).

• If your GP recommends psychological treatment, you can be eligible for up to 10 sessions per calendar year.

• The initial MHCP usually recommends 6 sessions (sometimes the GP will specify 10 total, however you will only be able to access a maximum of 6 at a time).
  

• After you have completed 6 sessions, your psychologist will write a letter to the GP recommending additional sessions (if this is what is appropriate).
  

• You can then attend another appointment with your GP to receive this treatment review.

• The additional review usually recommends 4 further sessions.

• You can pay the full fee and not receive a rebate.

• You can discuss a General Practitioner Management Plan (GPMP), Team Care Arrangement (TCA) with your GP which may give you access to additional rebated sessions.