I have recently attended a physiologist who has agreed that due to my depression and anxiety and history with DV I need to attend a few sessions with her. I feel relieved after the first session and feel it will be great. She has mentioned that if I get a mental health olan from my gp I can get a rebate.
How do I go ahead with getting this?
Mental Health Plan
Mental Health Plan
Posted in:
Mental Health, Anxiety & Depression
3 Replies
You just book an appointment with the GP and tell the GP you would like a mental health care plan.
They will get you to answer some questions and based on that will write a mental health care plan.
It's very easy and your GP will be very used to doing them.
Any GP can do it for you. Just be honest and tell them that is what you need. It should only take 5-10mins and they'll just ask you a few questions on how you are feeling. Answer honestly.
I got about 10 free sessions with my psychologist with one and have just gotten a new one because the last expired so I am eligible for another set of free sessions (free as in government pays for them- Medicare I think actually)
You book an appt with your GP, tell them it's for a mental health care plan, as it's a double appt and involves the nurse (if your clinic has one). You ask to see that particular psychologist and they do a referral and prob do a bit of a checklist. I assume the psychologist has already informed if there's any gap to pay, as all psychologists vary in their rates. You will have up to 10 sessions in a calendar year. After the first 6, the psychologist will write to the GP and request an additional 4 if required, you go back to GP for a 'review' and then they write you up for the remaining 4 visits.
If you use them all before the end of 12 months (which is easily done), there is EPC (enhanced primary care) plans which offers 5 visits to allied health professionals such as psychologist, physiotherapist, speech therapist, occupational therapist, exercise physiologist, podiatrist. You can split your 5 amongst any of these. It doesn't go far if chronic (which is what the plan is for) but it does ease a bit of the financial stress. Good luck!