Private Health Rebates
If you wish to use your private health extras cover for your allied health appointment please ensure you bring your health fund card with you. We can process an immediate claim with you fund for you using our HICAPS machine so that you only have to pay the gap. It is a good idea to contact your private health fund prior to your appointment to check if you have extras cover for the service.
Medicare Rebates for Allied Health Services
Allied health appointments are only eligible for Medicare rebates if you have one of the following special referrals, where your referrer assesses your child as meeting the relevant criteria:
Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP OR Referral under the Better Access to Mental Health Scheme from your paediatrician or psychiatrist.
These referrals enable access to Medicare rebates for up to 10 visits in total with a Psychologist and/or an Occupational Therapist per calendar year. Please note it is not possible to refer for the specific purpose of assessment/diagnosis.
Note: even if you have multiple plans/referrals/providers, you can only have 10 sessions in total per calendar year.
Chronic Diseases Management Plan (CDMP)/Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC)/Team Care Arrangement (TCA) from your GP. This referral enables access to Medicare rebates for up to 5 visits per calendar year with the allied health professionals nominated in the plan.
Referral under the Helping Children with Autism Scheme (HCWA) from your paediatrician or psychiatrist (must be initiated before your child turns 13 years of age)
This referral enables access to Medicare rebates for up to 4 sessions for diagnosis/treatment planning and up to 20 therapy sessions before the child turns 15 years of age.
Better Start for Children with Disability Initiative from your paediatrician or GP (must be initiated before your child turns 13 years of age. This referral enables access to Medicare rebates for up to 4 sessions for diagnosis/treatment planning and up to 20 therapy sessions before the child turns 15 years of age.
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)
If you will be using NDIS funding for your allied health appointment, please discuss this with us when booking your appointment and ensure you provide your child’s details and relevant documentation prior to your appointment. Please also advise how your plan is managed.
Questionnaires
Any questionnaires provided to you by reception staff or your allied health practitioner should be completed and returned to the practice as soon as possible before the day of your appointment. We recommend returning these by hand, express or registered post or by fax or email.
What else to bring to your appointment
Your child’s Blue Book, if seeing a dietitian, especially for children under 7 years or in the context of growth concerns.
Copies of any relevant reports, letters or assessments from other health professionals or educational institutions etc.
Your child! (unless you have previously discussed with us the appropriateness of attending without your child)
