COVID-19 Related information
Medicare Mental Health services including phone and video Telehealth counselling are available for those with a GP Mental Health Care Plan
Three steps:
- If you don’t already have a GP Mental Health care plan, you will need to speak to your medical practice about the availability of a phone (or in-person) consultation with a GP, to arrange for a GP Mental Health Care Plan. Telehealth Video Consultations (or telephone where access to video Telehealth is not available) are available with me for all clients over the age of 16.
- Once you have a GP Mental Health Care plan it can be faxed to me, with your Medicare Card details on (08) 9463 6378, or your GP can send it via Secure Messaging, to ARGUS: arguslrh-dale@coreplus.com.au or HEALTHLINK: lrh-dale
- Make a booking via my Booking Service on 1300 50 67 68, or use this link to HealthEngine
A form for your GP can be found here with my referral details
Telehealth Medicare Services
Recent changes to Medicare Telehealth services, (because of COVID-19) mean that anyone with a GP Mental Health Care plan can get subsidised Telehealth services.
Under normal circumstances with Medicare, I can offer those outside the metropolitan area (including FIFO workers while on-site) Medicare Psychologist services via the internet, if you have a referral from a General Practitioner (GP).
At the present time those in the metro area, as well as those in country areas can access Telehealth Medicare services.
For those in the country Telehealth allows you to have a Psychology consultation at a time that suits you, (e.g. while children are at school, or gone to bed at night) without needing to factor in travel time, to and from the Psychologist’ office, on top of the consultation time.
Regardless of whether I am at the main Huntingdale or Perth (East) office, I simply use the same appointment time for an online appointment instead of an in-person consultation.
10 Session CBT Anxiety
I am offering a highly “Manualized” program developed over 20 years, which as the manual says: “teaches practical tools which are effective in lowering and managing anxiety.”
The key word here is practical. The tools are not merely concepts but can be incorporated into daily living in a useful manner. You will need a referral from your General Practitioner for the first six sessions
An Information & Enrollment sheet can be downloaded via the button below.
NDIS (National Disability Insurance Scheme) Services
For those NDIS clients who are self-managed, i.e. they either arrange payments themselves from their NDIS budget, or have someone manage their payments for them, I can offer Psychology or Counselling services.
A few points to consider, include that I;
- Have previously worked with clients with a physical disability;
- Can conduct “out of office” consultations (and done them before);
- Charge the NDIS the same rate as for my usual clients;
- Have previously worked in the disability area;
- Am aware of some of the issues around access for those with limited mobility;
- Previous clients include those with both genetic and “acquired” disabilities;
- Have a combination of work and life experience with a wide range of clients, including those from non-english speaking backgrounds, indigenous and Gay or Lesbian clients
My National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Registration Number is 4050062149 (I can also separately provide services under Medicare.)
Medicare, Fees & GP Referral
I have been a registered psychologist since 2008.
(I’ve also been doing volunteer phone counselling since 1981)
My qualifications include a four year Psychology degree from Edith Cowan University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Counselling from Murdoch University.
In addition to general registration, I am able to supply services under Medicare (with a GP referral).
Information about Medicare referrals can be found via this link to the Department of Health and Aging.
A form for your GP to complete to assist in making a referral is available here (it is not essential, just helpful to me) and gives your GP information they will need, in particular my provider numbers.
PLEASE NOTE:
1. Medicare sessions are not “free” they are subsidised (i.e. Medicare will only pay a small proportion of the APS recommended fee);
2. I have been advised that GP referrals for psychological sessions under Better Access must specifically state the number of sessions to be provided. While this requirement is not new, the Department of Health had previously accepted that this requirement could be put aside.
Now, if a referral letter does not specify the number of sessions required, I am obliged to contact the referrer to seek clarification of the number of sessions to be provided.
3. The Medicare rebate is less than a third of the $267 recommended fee (although I do charge less than the APS recommended fee), i.e. you can expect to pay a “Gap fee”;
4. Psychologist’s work in a different way to GP’s so psychologist billing practices cannot be compared to those of a “Bulk Billing GP” (it’s like comparing “Apples and “Oranges”);
5. Because Psychologists only see one client an hour, Bulk Billing may only be possible under certain limited circumstances (I try to restrict Bulk-billing to those in the most dire circumstances, e.g. those living in Hostels or Domestic Violence Refuges – Concession card holders usually pay a $11.75 “Gap”);
6. Medicare does not cover couple/relationship counselling.
My times and locations: Please select this link to get a downloadable page with details of when I am usually at particular sites.
Huntingdale:
Perth (East)
My Medicare Provider Numbers (for your GP) are:
4498227F (Perth- East) 4498222Y (Huntingdale-Thornlie)
