Medicare and Clinical Psychology Services: the long and the short of it*
You may be aware that individuals with a diagnosed mental illness (such as depression, anxiety, or stress disorders) who are referred by their doctor to see a Clinical Psychologist, are able to claim a rebate from Medicare for the cost of their sessions. The rebate is currently approx. $120 per session, unless you have met the Medicare safety net threshold, in which case it is approx. $140 per session.
prior to November 2011, the entitlement was for a total of twelve sessions per calendar year. This has now been reduced to six/ten per calendar year.
Regardless of what you expect to claim from Medicare, when you go to see a Clinical Psychologist, you should consider whether you are seeking a short-term or a long-term intervention for your difficulties. The Medicare rebate for Clinical Psychology services is intended for short-term interventions, and this is reflected in the reduction to Medicare now planned in the budget. There is good evidence that short-term interventions by Clinical Psychologists are very effective in quickly reducing the severity of symptoms for depression, anxiety, and some other mental illness. However there is also good evidence that such brief interventions are not a ‘cure’ for the underlying causes of these symptoms, and that relapse is common over the long-term.
The bottom line: If you just want some relief from your immediate symptoms, then you would do well to go to your GP and get a referral to see a Clinical Psychologist. You should see benefits after a few sessions. However, if you are looking for a more fundamental change in how you feel about yourself, the world, or other people, then you will need to commit to a longer process, which will also involve a greater financial cost over time. After all, it took you quite a few years to become the person you are; if you want to change something about yourself, then it may take more than a few weeks of work to achieve this.
Finally, a word of advice if you are going to see a Clinical Psychologist for a brief intervention; In my experience, treatment generally works best if you see your therapist weekly for a few months, rather than trying to spread sessions out across the year. You could compare it to a course of antibiotics – it’s good to let it build up in your system properly, in order for it to have a proper impact on your symptoms.
Cal Paterson
*This information is intended as a general guide only, and is derived from my own research and experience. I would encourage you to visit your local Medicare office yourself for more detailed and specific information about your entitlements. Click HERE to visit the Medicare website.
