Mental Health Plans – WaverleyGP

A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a support plan for someone experiencing mental health issues
At your appointment, try to talk openly about what’s been happening
Everything you say will be confidential – except in some special mandated circumstances such as if a doctor feels you could be at immediate harm to yourself or others
Feel assured that GPs see people for mental health issues all the time
We recommend booking a longer appointment – though sometimes it will be necessary to complete a plan at a subsequent appointment
If your doctor believes you qualify for additional support, they can formulate a Mental Health Treatment Plan – and this will usually include a referral to a Clinical Psychologist
With a plan in place, the Government pays $124.50 towards each Psychology session – for up to ten sessions in a calendar year
Most Psychologists charge a gap payment in addition to the funded amount – typically in the vicinity of $80

To be eligible for Medicare funding, the Psychologist must be a Clinical Psychologist registered with Medicare
Our clinic has excellent relations with many nearby Psychologists – and will endeavour to refer you to someone that will be a ‘good fit’
If for any reason you don’t ‘click’ with a Psychologist please let your doctor know, as it’s possible to change Psychologist

We have also established our own Psychology Practice – “Balanced Psychology Network”
Your GP may be able to directly book an appointment for your at the time of your Mental Health Treatment Plan
Our Psychologists are highly recommended
As this practice is still developing – appointment availability is very limited

A Mental Health Treatment Plan will make you eligible for 6 psychology sessions
A Renewal of a Mental Health Treatment Plan will make you eligible for another 6 psychology sessions
Mental Health Treatment Plans can only be done once every 12 month interval (regardless of a new calendar year)
Renewals of a plan can only occur after 4 weeks has elapsed since an initial plan
Repeat Renewals of a plan can only occur after 3 months has elapsed since the previous Renewal of a plan
Psychology session funding of $124.50 per session is generated by a Mental Health Treatment Plan (or Renewal)
The funded sessions may be utilised by a patient within the same calendar year of the plan or renewal, as well as the subsequent calendar year
Medicare caps the number or psychology sessions funded within a calendar year at 10 sessions – though within Victoria since the Coronavirus pandemic, this cap has been lifted to 20 sessions