Navigating Medicare Rebates for Your Psychology Sessions

Taking charge of your mental wellbeing? Our guide explains how to access Medicare rebates for psychology sessions at Ivy Psychology, from getting your Mental Health Care Plan to us processing your rebate.

Therapy is an investment, and Medicare can make it considerably more affordable. Under the Better Access initiative, most Australians can claim a rebate on individual psychology sessions once their GP has prepared a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Here is how it works at Ivy Psychology.

Step 1: See your GP for a Mental Health Treatment Plan

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is prepared by your GP after a longer appointment in which you talk through what is going on and what you would like help with. When you book, ask reception for a longer consult and say it is for a mental health care plan so enough time is set aside.

Your GP will discuss your goals, complete the plan, and refer you to a psychologist. You can ask to be referred to Ivy Psychology by name.

Not sure what to ask your GP?We have a short guide covering what to say, what to bring, and what happens in the appointment. Read the GP guide

Step 2: How many sessions you can claim

A Mental Health Treatment Plan gives you access to a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year. These are usually released in blocks: your GP refers you for an initial course of sessions, then reviews your progress before referring you for the remainder.

• Up to 10 rebated individual sessions per calendar year
• A GP review is needed part-way through before the later sessions
• The count resets on 1 January, not 12 months from your first session
• Unused sessions do not carry over into the next year

Step 3: What you actually pay

You pay the full session fee at the time of your appointment, and Medicare pays the rebate back into your nominated bank account, usually within a day or two. The rebate is higher for sessions with a Clinical Psychologist than with a Registered Psychologist.

• Clinical Psychologist: $310 session fee, $149.05 Medicare rebate, $160.95 out of pocket
• Registered Psychologist: $290 session fee, $101.55 Medicare rebate, $188.45 out of pocket
• Provisional Psychologist: $120 session fee, no Medicare rebate

Fees are current at the time of writing. We confirm the exact fee and rebate with you before your first appointment, so there are no surprises.

Telehealth sessions

Rebates apply to telehealth sessions on the same basis as in-person appointments, so you can see your psychologist by video or phone without losing your rebate. This is helpful if you live outside Sydney, have limited mobility, or simply prefer to attend from home.

What Medicare does not cover

Better Access rebates apply to therapy, not to psychological or cognitive assessment. Assessment work, including ADHD, autism, and educational assessments, is generally not rebatable under Better Access, although some specific arrangements may apply. We will always tell you what is possible in your situation before you commit.

• Psychological and educational assessment reports
• Group programs and training, unless separately arranged
• Sessions where you claim a private health fund rebate for the same appointment

Private health insurance

Some private health funds offer rebates on psychological services, depending on your fund and level of cover. You cannot claim both a Medicare rebate and a private health rebate for the same session, so it is worth checking with your fund which option leaves you better off.

In summary

With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP, you can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual therapy sessions each calendar year. You pay the fee upfront and the rebate is returned to you soon after. If anything is unclear, our admin team is happy to walk you through the numbers before you book.

Ready to book?Send us your referral and Mental Health Treatment Plan and we will match you with an available clinician. Start a referral