Therapy at Smart Clinical Psychology can be accessed through several pathways. Your out-of-pocket costs will depend on whether you attend as a private client, or if you claim a rebate through medicare or your private health insurance fund. See below for further information regarding fees and rebates.
Payment
Payment is required at the end of each session. Accepted forms of payment are EFTPOS, Debit Card, Credit Card (Visa and Mastercard) (not accepted: American Express, Diners Club, JCB, UnionPay, Alipay, cash, cheque). Smart Clinical Psychology has a medicare easyclaim terminal to process medicare rebates. Payment for telehealth sessions is securely processed over the phone.
Fees – Self-referral
You can self-refer as a private client. You do not need a doctors referral to make an appointment if you are attending privately. As a private client there are no rebates available. The full session fee is $230 per 60 minute session.
Fees – Medicare
You will need to obtain a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and referral from your doctor to Smart Clinical Psychology to be eligible for a medicare rebate for each appointment you attend for up to 20 sessions per calendar year. You will need to bring a valid referral letter and your MHTP to your first session, and your medicare card to every session.
Providing you have registered your bank account details with medicare, a rebate can be claimed for each session you attend. You will need to pay the full fee of $230 at the end of each session, after which your rebate of $141.85 will be reimbursed through medicare back into your bank account. Your out-of-pocket expense for each session is $88.15 with the medicare rebate.
Your initial medicare referral will be for six rebatable sessions in that calendar year. To gain access to more rebatable sessions after six sessions, the simple process involves you seeing your doctor, and your psychologist writing a letter to your doctor to request approval for more rebatable sessions.
Note: Only one rebate (either medicare or private health fund) can be claimed per session.
Fees – Private Health Funds
You may be able to claim a rebate through your private health insurance if you have a policy that covers psychological treatment. It is best to check with Tommy to ensure he is an eligible provider for your nominated health fund before relying on this payment source, and if so, to then contact your health fund directly to check:
- Your eligibility for a rebate
- Whether your health fund provides rebates for telehealth (video or phone sessions)
- The amount of rebate you can expect per session, and
- Whether you need a referral from your GP
When claiming a private health rebate at the end of a 60 minute session, you will need to pay the full fee of $230, after which you will be provided with a receipt that you can forward to your private health insurer to claim a rebate.
Note: Only one rebate (either medicare or private health fund) can be claimed per session.
Cancellation Fee
Like many professional services there is a cancellation policy that reflects the hour that has been reserved for your session. This cancellation policy helps ensure the best service to clients. The cancellation fee applies to all clients.
24 hours notice is required for cancellations or changes to your appointment, otherwise 100% of the full session fee will be invoiced for payment. This fee is not claimable through medicare or your private health fund. All cancellation fees are payable by the client.
Funding pathways not offered
Smart Clinical Psychology does not offer bulk-billing, and is not registered to provide psychological services to SIRA/Workers Compensation claims, NDIS, Victims Services, or Employee Assistance Programs (EAP).
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