Frequently Asked Questions How can I access your service? (1) Visit Your Doctor – Medicare Rebates                                                                           There are several Government initiatives under which psychologists are eligible to provide services under Medicare.  You can access our services through 2 such schemes.          Scheme 1 (Medicare – Mental Health)        You  may  wish  to take    advantage   of Medicare’s Better Access to Psychologists initiative.  Most         common   emotional  &   mental  health  issues are  eligible  under   this   initiative  (these  include        depression, anxiety, sleep problems,  adjustment  disorders,  eating  disorders, alcohol & drug use        disorders &  many  more).  To   obtain  a  Medicare  Rebate,  you  must be referred to us by a GP,        Psychiatrist or Paediatrician. Obtaining a Medicare Rebated session can occur in 3 steps: 1.  Visit your GP to discuss your concerns. Alternatively if you are seeing a Psychiatrist, you can be referred directly from them. 2.  If you are eligible (i.e., you meet the relevant criteria under Medicare Item Number 2710), your doctor will create a GP Mental Health Care Plan referral to visit the psychologist of your choice. Up to 12 individual services & an additional 6 services in exceptional circumstances (to a maximum total of 18 individual services per calendar year) are available.  3.  After receiving a referral, call us to make an appointment time.  The GP will review progress after your first 6 sessions. After this you can then claim your 6 additional sessions.  (In exceptional circumstances your progress can be reviewed by your GP at the end of 12 sessions & a further 6 sessions can be claimed.) Note: This rebate system also applies to other health care items under Medicare so if you have received a rebate for any other allied health care issue it is important to check with Medicare to see what your eligibility for rebates is at any point in time.     Scheme 2 (Medicare – Chronic Medical Condition or Complex Needs)  The chronic disease management (CDM) Medicare items are part of a government initiative    that  assists people living with a chronic &/or complex medical illness, with an aim   to improving   their physical health. Medicare rebates are available for treatment from allied health professionals who are assisting in managing the illness. Clients who have a chronic condition that has or is likely to exist for 6 months or more may access this scheme. Typical conditions include: asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, musculoskeletal conditions, stroke & so on. Medicare does not specify ‘types’ of chronic illness, so discuss your condition with your GP first.   The initiative allows a person with a complex &/or chronic medical illness to claim a Medicare rebate for up to 5 visits (in total) to certain allied health professionals within a calendar year. The person must be referred by a GP who is managing them under a GP Management Plan & Team Care Arrangements (TCA). The GP is required to develop written Team Care Arrangements (TCA) in conjunction with at least two other allied health professionals, & to then provide referrals to those allied health services the team believes will be of most benefit to the patient/client.    So why use a psychologist? Psychologists are experts in human behaviour. Here at Compass Health Group we specialise in health coaching, which means we can help not only those who have mental health problems, but also those needing to make health behaviour changes &/or adjust to a chronic illness. Often chronic illnesses require the client to make a number of lifestyle changes, including health behaviours like diet, exercise, smoking & alcohol intake, maintaining energy levels & sleep, adhering to medications, scheduling regular treatments, in addition to changes to work, family & living arrangements. We can often help clients to learn how to better manage all of these changes. Being faced with a long-term chronic illness can also trigger various emotions, with many feeling angry, anxious or depressed or confused. We as psychologists can also assist by helping you  (2)  Contact Us Directly – Self Referral  Alternatively, you do not need a referral from other health practitioners to visit us. You may call us directly to make an appointment  Health Fund Rebates: Many private health funds now provide rebates for psychology services. Please check with your individual fund regarding what rebates your policy allows. Note that if you are obtaining a Medicare Rebated session, you can not claim any out of pocket expense using your health fund cover. (3)  WorkCover, Insurance or Rehabilitation Programs  If your treatment is claimable under WorkCover or insurance, all we need are the referral details & your claim number when booking the appointment.   What times do you have available for consultations? Morning, day & evening appointments available.  What are your fees? The APS recommended fee for sessions lasting 46 to 60 minutes is $206. However, Compass Health Group provides psychological services at competitive & affordable rates. For Medicare Rebated sessions, consultations are FREE for Health Care Card holders, with only minimal out of pocket expenses  (approx $30) for those without a Health Care Card. For sessions not covered by Medicare, many Health Funds now also provide allowances for psychological services, so check with your individual fund. With the exception of bulk billing clients, please note all payments are required to be paid at the time of consultation via cash Eftpos or credit card (MasterCard & Visa). Fee details can be seen in the table below.   Session Type Length Fee Medicare Rebate         Individual Psychology Session – Medicare 55 min approx. $110   Free $81.60   Bulk billing for concesssion or health care card holders. Individual Psychology Session – Direct Appointment 55 min approx. $110 NIL. Call your private health fund provider to check your policy coverage for psychology services.         Individual Chronic Disease Management Session – Medicare 40 min approx. $80   Free $50.95   Bulk billing for concesssion or health care card holders. Individual Health Coaching Sessions 40 min approx. $80 NIL. Call your private health fund provider to check your policy coverage for psychology services.         Third Party / Insurance 55 min approx. Negotiated   NIL. Training or Workshop Facilitation Negotiated  Negotiated   Note: A cancellation fee of $50 will apply if sessions are cancelled less than 24 hours before the scheduled appointment.