Medicare Rebate Scheme
At Transitional Support we offer a service which is competitively priced and comparable to the gap payments (out of pocket costs) of most similar treatment providers who are affiliated with the Medicare Rebate Scheme. At this stage, we have no plans to subscribe with these funding partners as their differing requirements impose limitations on service delivery.
Most competing service providers require a formal diagnosis or a Mental Health Assessment Plan to comply with their contracted arrangements with funding partners. At Transitional Support our philosophy is that throughout our various stages of life we all need some support, and requiring support is not always symptomatic of mental illness or mental disorder. Often our mental state can be reflective of a stage in life or a short-term developmental phase. It is always in the patients’ best interest to understand their current situation and develop strategies which may rule out “long term mental illness diagnosis”, as labels such as these may have life-long implications. To access our services, you do not require a mental health assessment nor a referral from your general practitioner or other health professional.
Consultation Fees
An example of Transitional Support consultation fees in comparison to psychologists’ fees and out of pocket costs after Medicare rebates are applied:
Effective from 1 January 2017
|
Provider |
Initial Consultation
60 – 70 mins |
Subsequent Consultation 60 – 70 mins |
Telephone & Skype Consultation 30–40mins |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transitional Support *Example of Fees (not including GST) |
$180 |
$150 |
$75 |
| APS Psychologist (not including GST)**Medicare Rebate between: $124.50 – $84.80 |
$350 – $124.50 |
$296 – $84.80 = $211.60 (Out of Pocketcosts) |
$183 |
* Please contact our reception team who will be happy to provide you with the costs of our consultations and treatments. Further Supporting information can be found under Supervision and Doctors Health Fund and Medibank Private Rebate Doctors Health Fund and Medibank Private Rebate Information Sheet.. Your health is our absolute priority so if you have any difficulty paying for your treatment, please discuss it with your practitioner and we’ll do our best to help.
** Access to the Medicare rebate scheme requires patients to obtain a mental disorder assessment. Mental disorder is a term used to describe a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly interfere with an individual’s cognitive, emotional or social abilities. Careful, consideration must be taken before seeking formal diagnostic labelling as formal assessment can be life-altering.
Cancellation Policy
Our cancellation policy is important to know because it will keep your costs down.
Please note that we need to receive at least 48 business hours notice of non-attendance, otherwise a fee will be charged.
- Cancellations within 48 business hours will incur a fee of $90.00
- Clients who fail to attend an appointment will be charged the full fee.
Diagnostic Assessment
Sometimes a diagnostic assessment can be a relief as a person can have a greater understanding of the symptoms they have been experiencing. However, there are many adverse consequences of acquiring an official formal mental health diagnosis which can lead to consequent diagnostic labelling. When a person is labelled by their illness, they tend to be seen as part of a stereotyped group. Negative attitudes create prejudice which leads to adverse actions and discrimination, such as the following:
- Diagnostic labels not only change the reputation of an individual but also alter how other people treat the person.
- People see only the diagnosis, not the person. A diagnostic label may come to negatively define the individual by focusing on the particular problem and downplaying many positive personal characteristics.
- Diagnostic labels may mislead understanding of cause.
- Impact on and access to health and life insurance
- Limit to employability and employment options.
- Can lead to self-fulfilling prophecies and stigmatisation.
- Stigma brings experiences and feelings of shame, blame, hopelessness, distress and a reluctance to seek and accept necessary help.
- Medications with aversive side effects being prescribed.
At Transitional Support, we assist clients in understanding their situation and equip them with a toolbox of strategies to both manage the outcome and their expectations. By reducing the stigma often faced by individuals and families helps our clients feel they can actively seek help and support.
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