Telehealth & Medicare Rebates
Telehealth improves access to psychological support by removing geographical barriers and improving convenience.
There are no differences in outcomes for therapy delivered via Telehealth vs therapy delivered in-person.
Access quality psychological support, no matter where you live.
For Australians, Medicare provides rebates for up to 20 sessions of Telehealth per year.
What is Telehealth ?
Telehealth is therapy delivered via video or telephone. Medicare rebates (i.e., 20 rebates per year) apply for all psychology sessions held via Telehealth.
Telehealth has also been approved as a method of service delivery for DVA Gold Card Holders, NDIS recipients, and WorkCover claims. Private Insurance also accepts Telehealth as a treatment modality (depending on your level of cover).
GP consultations and Psychiatry consultations are also eligible for Medicare rebates, independent of the 20 sessions you can now claim through for Psychology sessions.
Does Telehealth Work ?
- Yes – Telehealth has been found to be just as effective as face-to-face therapy. Below is a summary (with external links to this research):
- Results of a 2020 study of 4336 therapy attendees found that there were no differences between outcomes of mental health services delivered via videoconference and therapy delivered in-person. These results were obtained across a range of psychological problems and across a range of outcome measures.
This is consistent with previous research that has found no difference in outcome between Telehealth and in-person therapy for adults, adolescents and children treated for depression, anxiety, trauma, eating problems, and substance abuse.
Telehealth is also associated with a greater utilization of and fewer dropouts from mental health care.
Although Telehealth may not suit everyone, most people report they find it more convenient than travelling to / from a doctor’s office for appointments.
Some people even report that they find it easier than speaking in-person (e.g., sessions held over the phone remove the need to focus on how you visually present when you are speaking in-person or via video).
Please note: Therapy via Telehealth is generally not suitable for highly charged crisis situations such when life is at risk of imminent danger. For immediate mental health assistance, please call the Mental Health Access Line – 1800 011 511 or Lifeline – 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue – 1300 224 636. If life is in danger, please call 000 or present to your nearest hospital. All of these services operate in Australia 24 hrs/day.
Rebates for Telehealth
You can work with any psychologist in Australia via Telehealth. All Medicare card holders are eligible to receive rebates for up to 20 sessions per year. In addition, rebates for Telehealth are also possible for GP and Psychiatry Consultations, DVA Gold Card Holders, NDIS recipients, WorkCover claims, and Private Health psychology sessions (double check with your individual policy or insurer). These services are all independent of the 20 rebates that you can claim through Medicare for psychology sessions.
To receive all 20 Medicare Rebates:
- You must have a valid Medicare card.
- You must get a Mental Health Treatment Plan and GP referral for 6 sessions (you can use this to see any psychologist you choose: in-person or via Telehealth)
- After 6 sessions, you must return to your GP for a ‘Review of your Plan’. This Review gives you rebates for 4 more sessions (a total of 10 rebates).
- After the completion of your first 10 sessions, you must return to your GP for a second ‘Review of your Plan’. This allows you to receive rebates for the remaining 10 sessions in one block (a total of 20 rebates).
- You can receive up to rebates for up to 20 sessions per year.
Summary
- Therapy via video or by telephone (Telehealth) is just as effective as in-person therapy.
- Telehealth enables you to work with any psychologist in Australia that you choose.
- Eliminating travel time to/from appointments gives you more choice around when (and where) your sessions occur.
- Australians are eligible for up to 20 Medicare rebates per year for sessions held via Telehealth.
- If you already have a Mental Health Treatment Plan / referral to see a specific psychologist, know you can use this with any psychologist in Australia (it simply unlocks the ability for you to receive Medicare Rebates).
If you are new to therapy, or if you are interested in working together, I have written the following article to help you get the most out of therapy. It contains useful information that will be relevant, regardless of whether or not we work together. For a list of all self-help articles I have written, please visit this page.
