Providing Better Access To Clinical Psychology Through Therapy Servicesin Newcastle
At ELD Psychology, we believe mental health care services should be affordable and readily available for all people who need therapy services In Newcastle. That’s why we are registered with Medicare to provide clinical health psychology services under the Better Access initiative. This initiative enables you to receive a rebate for up to 10 psychology sessions per calendar, when seeking treatment for a mental health issue.
Click here for more information on our team of Newcastle-based therapists.
What is the Better Access initiative for people?
The Better Access initiative makes mental health care more affordable through Medicare rebates. Under this scheme, you may be able to access up to 10 individual sessions with clinical psychologists per year.
What mental health services do ELD Psychology provide?
We aim to help people address their difficulties, and obtain a sense of balance and wellbeing. We use a collaborative approach to help you build the skills required to overcome challenges you face and improve your life.
Our team of qualified clinical psychologists use evidence-based treatment to assist people with a range of psychological concerns including:
worry and anxiety
low mood and depression
stress
perfectionism
eating disorders
trauma
relationship issues.
Visit our Services page to find out more about the clinical psychology treatments we provide.
How can psychology services be accessed under the initiative?
Generally, a referral is not required to access ELD Psychology services. However, a referral is required to access our services under the Better Access initiative – follow these steps:
Book an appointment with your psychiatrist or GP to discuss your mental health concerns.
If seeking a referral for therapy from your GP, book a longer-than-usual session. This will ensure there is time for your GP to assess whether you require the services of a psychologist, and to prepare a Mental Health Care Plan if appropriate.
Once you have your Mental Health Treatment Care in place, get in touch with us to book an appointment.
If your GP has developed a Mental Health Care Plan, they will initially refer you for a maximum of six sessions. You will then need to book an appointment with your GP to review your progress and determine whether further sessions are needed. Your psychologist will be able to talk more about this process with you, when needed.
All our sessions run for approximately 50 minutes, except the first consultation which may take up to 1 hour. In addition to our in-practice sessions, we also offer telehealth consultations. This can be a good option if you are experiencing COVID-like symptoms, or are unable to attend in person for any other reason. Rest assured, we follow government health advice closely; your health and that of our team members is a high priority.
Visit our What to expect page for more information about booking an appointment and how our sessions run.
What do I need for my referral to be valid under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?
To receive a Medicare rebate, you must have a valid referral letter from your GP or psychiatrist - having a Mental Health Care Plan alone is not sufficient to access medicare rebates. The referral letter must include the following:
the patient's name, date of birth and address
the patient's symptoms or diagnosis
a list of any current medications
the number of services/sessions the patient is being referred for (typically an initial 6 sessions)
a statement about whether the patient has had a Mental Health Treatment Plan or a Psychiatrist Assessment and Management Plan prepared
GP’s name, signature and provider number
If your referral is not valid, unfortunately a Medicare rebate cannot be processed for your session. If this occurs, we recommend contacting your GP to request an updated referral letter, or speaking with our team and we can assist in liaising with your GP to help ensure the correct documentation is in place.
How much do therapy sessions cost?
Our fees are:
● $270 for an initial appointment
● $240 for ongoing appointments
● $260 for ongoing appointments after 5pm.
With a Mental Health Care Plan, the Medicare rebate available for each consultation is $145.25, leaving a gap payment of $94.75 ($114.75 after 5pm, $124.75 for initial appointment).
Note, we do not bulk bill, and you cannot pay for therapy services using private health insurance under the Better Access initiative. However, you may be able to make a claim with your private health insurance provider if your session is not covered by the Better Access initiative.
Visit our Fees page for more information about what you can expect to pay.
Our area of service and how to contact us
We provide clinical psychology services to children, adolescents and adults in the Newcastle, Lake Macquarie and Hunter area. Our office is located in Newcastle West.
Visit our Contact us page for more information about how to get in touch.
Disclaimer
The content provided on this blog is intended for Australian audiences and is for informational purposes only. It should not be considered as professional psychological advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The information shared here is based on general knowledge and experience in the field of psychology, but it may not be applicable to your specific situation.
Always seek the advice of your psychologist or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a psychological condition or treatment. Never disregard professional psychological advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this blog.
If you are in crisis or you think you may have an emergency, call your doctor, or dial 000 immediately. This blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
The opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of any affiliated organisations or institutions.