How do Mental Health Care Plans and Medicare rebates work?
Thank you for enquiring about Mental Health Care Plans and Medicare rebates at our practice. Please view our FAQ below.
If you would like to utilise a Mental Health Care Plan with a psychologist at our Practice, please read the following in full and ensure you’re aware of your responsibilities and actions steps required under the plan.
What is a Mental Health Care Plan?
A Mental Health Care Plan is a plan and referral created by a General Practitioner (GP) to help you access Medicare rebates for mental health services, such as those offered by psychologists, mental health accredited social workers, or certain occupational therapists.
Who is eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan?
Any Australian resident with a Medicare card experiencing mental health concerns can be eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan.
How do I get a Mental Health Care Plan?
Simply make an appointment with your GP, who will listen to your needs, assess your mental health, and, if suitable, create a Mental Health Care Plan for you to refer you to a psychologist.
If your GP would like to learn more about our practice, refer them to https://www.gabriellademori.com/refer-to-us
Each psychologist has a personal website under ‘About Us’ your GP can review.
Where should I get my Mental Health Care Plan addressed/sent to?
Ask your GP to send the plan to:
Your therapists name
c/o Gabriella de Mori Practice Owner & Principal
Fremantle Location: Corner Stack & Wood Street, Fremantle, WA, 6160.
Cottesloe Location: 12/88 Forrest Street, Cottesloe, WA, 6160.
Fax number: +61 (8) 62563151.
Email: clients@gabriellademori.com
What does a Mental Health Care Plan include?
This plan includes a gentle assessment of your mental health, a discussion about your treatment goals, suggestions around medication, if relevant, and a referral to the appropriate mental health professionals who can support you.
How many sessions can I get with a Mental Health Care Plan?
Under Medicare, you can receive rebates for up to 10 individual sessions and 10 group therapy sessions with a mental health professional each calendar year.
The sessions are not ‘free’, they provide a rebate after the full fee of your appointments is paid. Medicare rebates usually arrive within 3 business days after processing to your nominated bank account with Medicare.
Can I choose my mental health professional?
Yes, you have the freedom to choose your mental health professional, as long as they are registered with Medicare and accept Medicare rebates.
You can tell your GP you’d like to see one of our psychologists at our Practice.
Are all the therapists at Gabriella de Mori & Co Counselling psychologists?
No, we are a multidisciplinary team including counsellors, psychologists and couples counsellors.
You can only utilise a Mental Health Care Plan and Medicare rebates with a psychologist.
Can I use a Mental Health Care Plan for couples/relationship counselling?
No, you can only use them for individual sessions.
Mental Health Care Plans do not currently cover couples or relationship counselling with two clients in the room.
How much does it cost to see a mental health professional with a Mental Health Care Plan at your Practice?
Costs can vary depending on the professional's fees. Medicare rebates cover a significant portion of the cost for registered psychologists ($96.65), though there will be an out-of-pocket expense.
At our Practice, registered psychologists charge between $200-$250, depending on who you see.
You pay the full fee for the appointment, then the rebate is processed for you afterwards. Ensure you have the full session fee available on your card for your appointment.
Our current psychologists at our practice are Registered Psychologists, and the current 2025 rebate is $96.65.
We do not offer bulk-billing psychology consults at our Practice.
How do I get my rebates?
You pay for your session in full, on the day of your appointment with your psychologist, through the psychologist's chosen/requested payment method.
After your session, they will process a rebate for you using our online system.
For your first session, ensure you bring your medicare card to ensure correct details are in our system.
If you have not provided your banking details to Medicare or do not know your Medicare card details, you can claim directly with Medicare using the receipt provided to you.
Do I need a referral to get a Mental Health Care Plan?
To get a Mental Health Care Plan, you need to book in a ‘Mental Health Appointment’, often an extended session with your GP who will prepare the plan for you to access the Medicare rebates and refer you to a psychologist.
The MHCP acts as a referral to your psychologist.
The GP will create your Mental Health Care Plan and provide a referral to your psychologist.
If you want to see a therapist at our practice privately, and not access Medicare rebates, you do not need a Mental Health Care Plan or see your GP, just reach out to our Practice.
Can I use a Mental Health Care Plan for online or telehealth services?
Yes, Medicare rebates can be used for eligible telehealth consultations, making it easier to receive support from the comfort of your home.
How long is a Mental Health Care Plan valid?
A Mental Health Care Plan does not expire, so you can start to use it when you like.
Once you’ve started seeing a psychologist, you will need to visit your GP for a review after the initial six sessions to ensure you’re receiving the best possible care.
You are eligible for ten rebates per calendar year. These do not carry over if you do not use them in one calendar year.
What if I have to cancel an appointment with my psychologist?
At our practice, if you cancel within less than the required notice period under our cancellation policy, you will be charged for that appointment in full.
You can not claim Medicare Rebates on late-cancelled or missed appointments.
Therefore, appointments you have cancelled late or not attended without giving notice are charged at the full fee as a private session, and no Medicare rebate will be applied.
You can check our current cancellation policy in your intake and confirmation emails.
What communication happens between my psychologist and GP?
When you attend your first appointment with your psychologist, they will write a short letter to your GP notifying them you have engaged in psychology with them and agreed to move forward with appointments.
If your psychologist decides you and they are not the right fit, or you need a different level of care or service, your psychologist will notify you of this, and also write back to your GP to notify them.
After your 6th session, your psychologist will write a summary letter of your progress so far, and request that your GP approves a further 4 sessions under the plan, totalling 10 in a calendar year.
They will write an approval for a further 4 sessions so you can continue with your psychologist. Ask the GP to send the new referral to our practice, and also get a printed copy to take with you as a backup to your psychologist at your 7th appointment.
Ensure you have booked in to see your GP in advance, and do not leave it to the last minute, as your GP may not be available within your preferred time frame.
After your 10th session, your psychologist will write again to your GP to summarise your work after ten sessions.
You can then continue to choose to work with your psychologist on an ongoing basis privately, paying the full fee for the sessions and/or using your private health rebates if you have a private health policy which includes psychology.
In some circumstances, you may be eligible for a limited number of additional rebates for psychology under a Chronic Disease Management Plan. Please consult your GP.
If you decide not to continue counselling and/or pause sessions until you can get a new Mental Health Care Plan, let your psychologist know, and they will write to your GP.
For private sessions, no GP communication is required, and your psychologist does not write to your private health insurer at all.
At the beginning of a new calendar year, you can return to your GP and request a new referral to be addressed to your psychologist and the above process will repeat.
It is your responsibility to keep track of your number of appointments under the Mental Health Care Plan, and your psychologist will assist to remind you.
What are my responsibilities and action steps?
You need to book a Mental Health Appointment with your GP to get a Mental Health Care Plan and referral sent to us.
Ensure you have up-to-date Medicare card details, and you have provided banking details to Medicare to receive your rebates.
You need to see your GP after your 6th psychology appointment to discuss your progress with them.
It is your responsibility to keep track of your number of appointments under the Mental Health Care Plan, and your psychologist will assist to remind you.
At the beginning of a new calendar year, you can return to your GP and request a new referral to be addressed to your psychologist and the above process will repeat.
What happens during a GP appointment after your 6th and 10th sessions?
During the appointment, your GP will gently assess your progress, update your referral if necessary, and decide if further sessions are needed to support your well-being.
Your GP will review the session summary letter from your psychologist.
A week before your GP appointment, you can call your GP reception to ensure your GP has received a copy of your psychologist's summary letter.
Ensure you book an appointment with your GP after your 6th session with your psychologist, and before your 7th psychology session, or the next session you wish to claim Medicare rebates.
This can take some thoughtful coordination with your practitioners, so please be attentive to forward planning appointments.
What types of mental health issues can a Mental Health Care Plan address?
A Mental Health Care Plan can help with a wide range of mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, stress, adjustment issues, and more.
Can I get a Mental Health Care Plan if I already have private health insurance?
Yes, you can still obtain a Mental Health Care Plan and access Medicare rebates even if you have private health insurance.
You cannot claim both Medicare and Private Health Insurance rebates on the same session, so you will choose one or the other.
Most clients with both utilise their MHCP rebates first as they are usually higher, then start using the Private Health Rebates.
How do I find a GP who can provide a Mental Health Care Plan?
Most GPs can create a Mental Health Care Plan. You can contact your local clinic or use the Healthdirect Australia service to find a GP who can assist you.
If you would like to see a GP who specialises in Mental Health, you can ask the reception of your GP who they would recommend.
Avoiding delays: Medicare Card, Address, Bank details
Ensure your medicare card is current, and you provide the correct details during your intake new patient forms.
If your address or Medicare card details are replaced or renewed, or the number you are on your Medicare card (IRN) changes, tell your psychologist.
Ensure your bank details linked to Medicare are correct.
If you have delays receiving your Medicare rebate, let your psychologist know, and they can double-check their processing of your rebate.
You may need to contact Medicare directly to troubleshoot rebates that are not processing.
The problem usually is:
Your medicare card is out of date/not updated.
You haven’t correctly linked your bank details to your Medicare account.
You have your Medicare bank details linked to your parents' account, and they are receiving the rebates in their bank account if you’re an adolescent/young adult.
You have reached your session limit and/or you haven’t properly completed your GP review.
You can call the Medicare hotline to troubleshoot rebate issues here.
How you can help your psychologist make this process as seamless as possible
Request a printed copy of your Mental Health Care Plan, referrals and reviews as a back-up, and bring it to your session.
Bring your Medicare card or a photo of it to your first session.
Cancel or reschedule your appointment as soon as you realise you have to. Do not wait for your email reminders to arrive before you review your appointments. Do not cancel appointments unless it’s unavoidable or an emergency.
Be patient with your psychologist. They are working hard with notes and communication with your GP to ensure you have access to Medicare rebates.
Be forward planning with your appointments with your GP and psychologist.
Your psychologist has a duty of care to update your GP regularly about their care of you with them. Please reply to all correspondence with your psychologist. If you would like to pause, stop or be re-allocated to a different therapist or practice, please communicate with your psychologist so they can assist you and ensure their communication with your GP is up to date.
We look forward to supporting you at our Practice with our psychologists Jen Vellios, Kylie Grills or Viola Prinz.To learn more about our psychology services or request an appointment, complete the form here
