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PLEASE NOTE: I retired in September and am no longer seeing clients.

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Medicare Services at Inner Actions.

Mental Health Treatment Plans

As a registered psychologist and Medicare provider, I can provide psychological services to those clients who are eligible to obtain a Medicare rebate for up to 10 sessions per year. Medicare rebates are available for clients who are referred by their GP or psychiatrist. To obtain Medicare rebated services, your GP will need to undertake a mental health assessment, determine if you have a diagnosable mental health condition and if so, prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). If seeing your doctor to seek a referral it is advisable to inform them when making the appointment as it will entail a longer session.

PLEASE NOTE: Medicare has strict requirements about the documentation required to obtain services under an MHTP and to obtain Medicare rebates. It is essential that you bring all of the necessary documentation with you to your first appointment or you will not be able to claim the Medicare rebate for that session. I recommend that you read this note about the documentation requirements (PDF) before seeing your GP and before coming to your first session.

Conditions Covered by Medicare

Medicare covers services for people with a range of conditions including:

  • Alcohol use disorder
  • Anxiety disorders
  • Adjustment disorder
  • Attention deficit disorder
  • Bereavement disorder
  • Bipolar disorder
  • Conduct disorder
  • Co-occurring anxiety and depression
  • Depression
  • Drug use disorder
  • Eating disorders
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder
  • Panic disorder
  • Phobic disorder
  • Posttraumatic stress disorder
  • Psychotic disorders
  • Schizophrenia
  • Sexual disorders
  • Sleep problems

Referrals

It is up to your GP to assess whether you require the services of a psychologist and to prepare a referral. Your doctor may allow you to request a specific psychologist, or may refer you to a psychologist that they recommend.

Some GP's provide their patients with a list of 2 or 3 psychologists and suggest that you check out who you would like to work with and whether they have appointments available. This can be useful but if your GP does this, ensure that you advise them of who you eventually choose to see and that the supplied referral specifies the actual psychologist (or Practice) to whom you are being referred.

Referrals to me must be made to either: “the psychologist”, “Luisa Dal Molin” or “Inner Actions” and the doctor must specify the number of sessions they are approving.

Secure Electronic Referrals

I send messages and progress reports to your GP or psychiatrist securely via HealthLink and I also have the capacity to accept electronic referrals via HealthLink to my EDI: inneract. Your GP may be able to provide a direct referral via their practice software to Luisa. This simplifies the process of providing the documentation required, please advise them that my EDI is “inneract”.

Number of Sessions

Medicare only covers up to 10 sessions in any one year. Normally your GP will refer you for up to 6 initial sessions. At the conclusion of the number of referred sessions, I am required to prepare a report for your GP who may then approve additional sessions. (While an MHTP can allow services to be conducted over more than one year, Medicare limits you to a maximum of 10 in any one year.)

Paying for Sessions

I ask that you pay at the end of each session. I can then initiate the Medicare rebate for you (you will need to have your Medicare Card with you) or I can provide you with a PAID Invoice which you can take to a Medicare office. My fees are as shown on the services page. Unfortunately, Medicare does not cover the full cost of the session. Medicare also does not cover the costs for missed sessions.

Medicare does not permit payment of a separate Gap Fee meaning that I cannot accept the difference in the Medicare rebate and my fee from you and bulk bill at the same time. You will need to pay the full amount and then claim the Medicare rebate. (And, no, I do not understand the logic of that rule either.)