Fees & funding
Medicare rebates
Under the Better Access to Mental Health Initiative, eligible families may claim a Medicare rebate for psychology sessions with a registered psychologist when they have a valid referral. From 1 November 2025, a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and referral from a GP or prescribed medical practitioner must be prepared by your usual medical practitioner, or by a GP or prescribed medical practitioner at the practice where you are registered for MyMedicare. A paediatrician or psychiatrist can also refer you directly without preparing an MHTP. To receive a rebate, referrals must be dated on or before the day of your psychology appointment. Referrals cannot be back-dated.
Up to 10 sessions per calendar year
6 sessions, then Referring practitioner review, then up to 4 more — Up to 10 sessions per calendar year.
Referrals and sessions
Your referring practitioner can refer you for an initial course of up to 6 psychology sessions with a Medicare rebate. After those sessions, your psychologist provides a written progress letter to the referring practitioner. You then return to that practitioner, who assesses whether a further course of treatment is appropriate (up to your calendar-year limit of 10 individual sessions). If further sessions are approved, you will receive a new referral to bring to Tic Tac Toe. Once you have used 10 individual Better Access sessions in a calendar year, further Medicare-rebated individual sessions under this pathway are not available until the following calendar year.
If you have already claimed 10 individual Better Access sessions for the calendar year, you cannot access further individual rebated sessions until January of the following year. Separate rules apply for group therapy services. For the latest rules, please check Services Australia or speak with your usual GP.
How Medicare works on the day
When utilising a Medicare plan, payment is settled in full on the day of your appointment. We can then process your rebate so Medicare deposits it into your nominated account, or we can give you a paid receipt so you can claim with Medicare yourself. Medicare rebates under Better Access are only available for sessions with a registered psychologist, not with a provisional psychologist.
Please note: The rebate amount may differ based on your past paid medical expenses. If you have reached the Medicare Safety Net, Medicare may cover up to 80% of eligible out-of-pocket costs, subject to Medicare limits. For more information, please refer to the Medicare website.
Questions families ask
Do I need a referral?
- Private clients can start without a GP or paediatrician referral. For Medicare, book with your usual GP (or a GP at your MyMedicare practice) for a Mental Health Treatment Plan, or ask a paediatrician or psychiatrist about a direct referral, before your psychology appointment. Referrals must be dated prior to or on the day of your scheduled appointment and cannot be back-dated.
Can I claim a Medicare rebate?
- On the day of your appointment, payment is settled in full. For sessions with a registered psychologist, the clinic can process your Medicare rebate into your nominated account, or give you a paid receipt so you can claim it yourself. Medicare rebates under Better Access are only available for sessions with a registered psychologist, not with a provisional psychologist. Eligible children may also access Medicare rebates for assessment services under the complex neurodevelopmental conditions and eligible disabilities pathway, with an appropriate medical referral.
Not sure which pathway fits?
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