Funding Options

Below is not a full list, but some of the more common funding options.

Unique Brains also has a payment plan option clients whereby you can pay by instalments. However, full payment must be made prior to receiving any assessment results or report.

This is where you pay the full cost of the service. This is usually done without a Doctor referral and is not covered by Medicare or Private Health Insurance.

You may have access to Private Health Insurance which can cover some or all of the cost involved. You would need to contact your health insurer to determine if your policy covers some or all of the psychology services. Please be aware that Private Health Insurance rebates for Psychology may be less than the Medicare rebate with some policies.

Specialist referrals from a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist is the preferred method of referral. However, a referral from a General Practitioner is also acceptable.

A MHCP is part of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists, and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (Better Access) initiative and involves the following process:

• Consult with your Doctor who will determine your, or your child's eligibility, and whether a MHCP is required. Your Doctor may then prepare a MHCP.
• A letter of referral addressed specifically to Unique Brains, or the treating Psychologist, may also accompany the MHCP. The MHCP entitles you claim a Medicare rebate for each psychology session to a maximum of 10 per calendar year.

Medicare rebates do not cover the full cost of service, and a gap fee will apply.

How a MHCP works:

• Your Doctor provides an initial referral and MHCP for 6 sessions of therapy.

• At the completion of 6 sessions, the Psychologist would then provide the referring Doctor with a report on the progress made.

• You will then need to make an appointment with the referring Doctor who will discuss you progress. The Doctor may then allow a further 4 sessions and provide a new referral letter for the Psychologist.

• Once all 10 sessions have been completed, the Psychologist will provide another report for your Doctor to help determine whether ongoing treatment may be required.

• A MHCP permits a maximum of 10 psychology sessions per calendar year. MHCPs with unused sessions can carry over into the next calendar year. However, these unused sessions will be counted towards the 10 session psychology allowance for the following calendar year.

• A rebate cannot be claimed for an appointment dated before the MHCP issue date.

Please present all referrals to reception prior to the initial appointment with the Psychologist.

The MHCP will be registered through Medicare under you, or your child’s name – therefore, it will be necessary for you or your child to attend the practice for each session to claim the MHCP Medicare rebate.

Assessments are not usually covered by the MHCP.

A Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP) entitles a client with a chronic/complex medical illness a referral for up to 5 session per calendar year with a range of allied health professionals as determined by your GP, and may include a Psychologist.

A CDMP can only be accessed through a GP, as Paediatricians cannot issue CDMP's.

The process is similar to acquiring a MHCP but there is no session review period with the GP for the CDMP.

NDIS Plan Managed Participants:

• Following each session, invoices will be emailed directly to your Plan Manager for payment. Please provide reception with the details of your Plan Manager, any invoicing requirements, and your NDIS participant number prior to attending your first session.

• Full payment is required at the time of your appointment, and a receipt will be emailed to you to claim directly through your NDIS portal.

• Unique Brains does not currently work with NDIS Managed Participants.