Online/Telehealth sessions
Online appointments can be an excellent option for a number of issues, especially if you don’t want to leave your home. I can offer you appointments online for a number of issues especially for anxiety, depression, parenting issues and relationships issues. These appointments can be paid for privately and are confidential.
Funding options
- COVID-19
- Bushfires
- NDIS
- Private Heatlh
COVID-19
Currently there are some additional Medicare funding for people who meet the isolation criteria, which can be online or on the phone. There is a reasonably strict criteria for these appointments, so please let me know if you are wanting to take advantage of these appointments (these will be bulk-billed). If you do not meet the isolation criteria, you are still welcome to request for your session to take place over the phone/skype however there will not be a rebate available for these sessions (therefore they will also not count towards your 10 Medicare rebates/calendar year). If you are using Medicare for your child, the child does have to be present for part of these sessions.
If you are considering telephone/skype sessions, please consider if this is an appropriate medium for your child. Some children may find it difficult to engage in sessions of this medium.
Bushfire online counselling
If you live in a rural or remote area, you may not be able to easily access mental health services. You’ll be able to get counselling and support through video telehealth services instead. You’ll get a Medicare benefit for this service, but a gap fee applies. You don’t need a new mental health care plan referral to access these services and they are up to 10 sessions.
The services are available to anyone whose mental health has been affected by a bushfire which occurred in the 2019-20 financial year, and are not restricted to people living in areas directly affected by bushfire.
Patients can access up to 10 individual mental health services in a calendar year (provided by any combination of eligible providers). A diagnosis or referral are not required to request these services.
Services received under the government’s Bushfire Response initiative do not count toward a patient’s quota of services under the Better Access initiative.
You can get these services from now until 31 December 2021.
NDIS participants
Tou are able to have telephone or skype appointments in place of face-to-face appointments. If you are an NDIS participant and you feel this is a good option for you, please get in contact.