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Medicare Information

How does the Medicare Rebate Work?


If you are eligible for a Medicare rebate then we would be happy to assist you in obtaining it. When you attend a session you will be billed the cost of the session, if you pay by EFTPOS then we can process your rebate instantly and put the rebate amount straight back into your account. Please be aware that there is usually a gap fee (or out of pocket expense) for attending a session at Distinct Directions.

An example is:

Example Only Medicare Item No.Total FeeYour Medicare Rebate Gap Fee (Out of Pocket Expense
 Individual Therapy Session80110$200.00$96.65$103.35

So, for the example above : $200 is removed from the nominated account, Medicare then places a rebate to that account for $93.35, meaning that a total of $106.65 is paid for the service.

If you are interested in finding out more about Medicare rebates, the APS has produced a helpful factsheet.


How many Medicare Rebates can I get per year?


There are several different types of rebates that Medicare offers related to Psychology Services.

The most common is under a “Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)”.  If you and your GP create a MHCP then you are eligible for rebates on 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions per calendar year.  The number of sessions you are eligible for resets to 10 individual and 10 group on the 1st of January each year.

These sessions are divided into two groups usually.  After the MHCP is developed you can access 6 sessions and then need to have a chat with your GP to discuss progress and how effective it is, they can then authorise a further 4 sessions by providing a letter.