Fees and Rebates:
Therapeutic Conversations Clinical Psychology aims to have a socially responsible fee structure, accessible to all.
You are welcome to utilise a Medicare or Private Health Insurer Rebate to assist in payment for your sessions.
Medicare Rebates:
A GP can provide you with a Mental Health Care Plan, which entitles you to access the current Medicare Rebate of $131.65 for up to 20 sessions per calendar year. Eligibility for Medicare Rebates requires a GP completes a Mental Health Care Plan with a referral to this service.
A Psychiatrist can refer you to this service, with the relevant Medicare Item Number, also making you eligible for the Medicare Rebate, but without the requirement of a Mental Health Care Plan.
For more information on Medicare Rebates go to the Medicare website.
Private Health Insurance Rebates:
To find out if you are eligible for a private rebate on Clinical Psychology services, check your level of cover with your insurer. If eligible, you will not usually require a referral, but check requirements with your insurer.
Note, rebates from Medicare and Private Health Insurance can not be claimed concurrently. However, if sessions reach the Medicare limit (10 within a calendar year), you may utilise Private Health Insurance (as eligible) to subside further sessions.
Standard Fee:
$230 per session ($15.00 increase 01/12).
With the Medicare Rebate ($131.65) you will have a out-of-pocket expense of $98.35.
To determine your out-of-pocket expense utilising Private Health Insurance, please check with your insurer.
Hardship Fee:
$175 per session ($10.00 increase 01/12).
If you are unable to afford the standard fee & receiving a NewStart Allowance, Disability Support Pension or Sickness Benefit, then please let me know & you are welcome to pay the hardship fee.
With the Medicare Rebate ($131.65) you will have an out-of-pocket expense of $43.35.
Bulk Billing:
If you are experiencing significant financial hardship, and in the process / struggling to obtain an allowance / benefit you are otherwise entitled to, I will reduce the fee charged to the Medicare Rebate only, with no out-of-pocket expense. This option will only available whilst you are in significant financial hardship or till you receive an allowance / benefit. Please be aware, I am only able to offer the bulk billing to maximum of 25% of my clients, once this quota is full I will not be able to offer this option to others. If your financial circumstances change, & you become able to pay the hardship or standard fee, please let me know & I can offer bulk billing to another in more need.
Non-Attendance Fee:
$230, Medicare and Private Health Insurers will not subside a non-attendance fee, this will be your sole responsibility.
If for some reason you do not attend your appointment, have not given 24 hours notice, nor a pressing reason, you will be required to pay a non-attendance fee.
A pressing reason will be considered an unexpected serious matter or emergency blocking your attendance.
Payment of the non-attendance fee will be required within 7 days, prior to the scheduling of any further appointments / provision of requested letters / reports.
Unfortunately, refusal of payment may also result in the engagement of debt collection services and / or further legal action.
This fee signifies the important of attendance, your time and mine. It encourages purposeful decisions around attendance / changing / cancelling appointments, and ensures fees for all are kept to a minimum.
Payment Options:
Payment may occur prior to the session via bank transfer (Standard fee only no Rebates, with your name denoting the payment), or will occur at the start of the session via EFTPOS, credit card, HICAPS and / or cash.
If paying by cash, please bring the exact amount, as cash is not kept on the premises, so providing change is not possible.
Cheques cannot be accepted.
Delayed or partial payment is not possible.
Cancelling or Changing Appointments:
By booking an appointment you have secured the time and space for you to attend.
If for some reason you need to cancel or change your appointment time, you are welcome to do so. If you give more than 24 hours notice no fee will be incurred.
Timing of your session:
Your session is 55 minutes. It will start promptly on the time allocated. It will end with 5 minutes to review the session / any homework tasks, and book follow-up sessions.
If you arrive late, your session will still end at the originally allocated time.
If you are running very late, I suggest you consider having the session over the telephone, thus minimising lost time.
Fees remain consistent despite timing of your attendance to the session, or whether you attend in person or via the telephone.