How to Claim Medicare Rebates for psychology services

Step 1: Book an appointment with your GP 

You may need to book a longer appointment - ask the medical centre receptionist which kind of appointment is best for preparing a Mental Health Care Plan.

You may like to ask a friend or support person to come with you to your appointment. It's perfectly OK to feel nervous or not know what to say - just be honest and try not to minimise or understate your feelings. Help your doctor understand what has made you decide to seek the support of a psychologist. 

Step 2: At your GP visit, ask them to prepare a 'Mental Health Care Plan' 

Your doctor will ask a few questions about how you have been feeling and may ask you to complete a brief questionnaire. Answer honestly about the difficulties you're having. 

Remember, some GPs are more acquainted with mental health than others. If you don't have a good experience, please don't be deterred - seek a second opinion elsewhere.

Step 3: Ask your GP for a referral letter to provide to your psychologist. 

Your psychologist requires a formal referral letter in order for you to claim a Medicare rebate for your psychology appointments - a copy of the Mental Health Care Plan is not enough. This is not always well understood so you may need to ask your GP/medical centre to prepare a referral letter if they don't automatically do this for you. 

You have the right to choose your preferred psychologist - not your GP, although they can usually suggest a few local psychologists. It helps to have done some research into psychologists, checked their availability, and to bring details of your preferred psychologist to your GP appointment. 

If you have a referral letter addressed to one psychologist, but end up seeing a different psychologist - that's OK. Psychologists can accept a referral letter even if it names a different psychologist. Best practice is for you or your current psychologist to contact your GP so they are aware which psychologist you have chosen to see. 

Referral letters do not expire and can be used even if it has been a while since it was prepared. If your circumstances have substantially changed, it's usually a good idea to visit your GP and get a fresh referral.  

Step 4: Book a psychology appointment and send your referral letter to your psychologist beforehand

It's helpful to send your referral letter to your psychologist before your initial appointment so I can check that it has all it needs to be valid, and any issues can be resolved before you visit us. You can email or fax your referral letter or ask your GP to send it directly to me.

It is your choice and totally optional whether or not you'd like to share the Mental Health Care Plan with me too.

More information about psychological services under Medicare is available at: www.psychology.org.au/for-the-public/Medicare-rebates-psychological-services/Medicare-FAQs-for-the-public