Bulk Billing Telehealth for Mental Health

Contacting psychologists has never been easier thanks to the rapid growth of digital healthcare in Australia. For many people, being able to talk to a doctor from their own space and comfort, even if only for a moment, lessens even the stress that sometimes comes with being in the hospital waiting room. Coupling telehealth with psychology through the healthcare insurance system means people separated by distances and those with financial challenges still have access to much-needed help.

Figuring out how mental health bulk billing works means understanding the government-laid-down routes. There is a big difference between seeing a doctor for your general health and getting a subsidised psychologist through a GP referral. To get a general idea of how the government subsidises all your medical appointments, go through our detailed bulk billing and Medicare guide.

Once you get to grips with what a GP mental referral entails and the mixed digital vs. physical treatment classification, you are well on your way to health budgeting smartly without neglecting your wellbeing. 

When GP Referrals Are Needed

One cannot simply go to a psychologist for Medicare psychology telehealth sessions and get bulk-billing without an initial visit to a GP.

• First Step Assessment: The GP will first determine whether your problem meets the criteria for subsidised psychological support under the government's Better Access program.
• Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP): In case you qualify, the doctor and you will prepare an MHTP together. That document serves as your medical history, goals, and treatment record summary.
• The GP Mental Referral: Along with the MHTP, the GP will provide a formal referral to a registered or clinical psychologist, social worker, or occupational therapist. If you are confused about how these documents are generated without extra fees, you can read about prescriptions and referrals in bulk billing.
• Picking the Therapist: Having the referral buttons you up for a telehealth provider. Very importantly, you should check their billing policy before making a booking, as having an MHTP does not mean the psychologist will necessarily do a zero-fee session. You can learn more about this by reading what bulk billing means.

Medicare Limits and Eligibility

The government underwrites a sizable portion of the cost of seeing a psychologist; however, the scheme comes with strict annual limits and designated item numbers.

• Number of Sessions Per Year: Medicare allows patients to claim up to 10 subsidised psychological sessions in a calendar year.
• Ensuing Review: These are not simply handed out on a silver platter. Your doctor would typically refer you to a block of 6 sessions first. After finishing those, you have to come back for a review with your doctor to assess the last 4 sessions.
• Additional Fees: The government sets a fixed amount for these sessions, but psychologists are private businesses and can set their own fees. If the psychologist's fee exceeds the government rebate, you have to pay the difference. If the psychologist accepts the government rebate as full payment, the session is bulk-billed.
• Safety-Net Measures: If you end up paying gap fees for your psychological care, those out-of-pocket expenses accumulate and will form part of your yearly limit. You can learn more about this by checking out the Medicare safety net explanation.
• Telehealth MBS Codes: Telehealth sessions have separate billing codes from those used for face-to-face consultations. They also distinguish between video consultations and telephone-only consultations. To learn more about these codes, go through our list of common MBS item numbers.

For official government resources and community-based support networks outside of the standard MBS pathways, the Medicare Mental Health Centres network provides important local help.

13CURE Operations and Mental Health Care

When seeking medical assistance, you should not only consider the best service for your needs, but also the most appropriate one. 13CURE is a specialised deputised medical service designed to step in when regular clinics are closed.

• Opening Hours & Services: 13CURE provides after-hours telehealth only for urgent cases; non-emergency cases are available from 11 PM to 7 AM daily.
• See Your Usual GP: Because drafting a Mental Health Treatment Plan requires a comprehensive understanding of your medical history and ongoing management, 13CURE does not provide MHTPs or specialist psychology referrals during our late-night operations. It is strongly recommended that you see your regular GP for non-urgent cases and chronic condition management.
• Billing Practices: In some cases, bulk billing may be carried out only for patients from primary care partner practices deputised with 13CURE, infants aged less than 1 year, homeless individuals, or those coming from a disaster area. All other service users are invoiced privately into the 13CURE system.
• Administrative Requests: 13CURE only sees urgent patients after hours. We do see patients privately for Medical Certificates and documentation. If you require a certificate for a mental health day from work during the night, this consultation will incur a private fee.

If you have an acute medical illness that is not life-threatening, you can rely on our after-hours urgent care network for immediate medical assessments.

Regional Compliance and Availability

The primary goal is to deliver high-quality urgent virtual care to the communities within our active footprint. At the moment, our work is highly focused on certain regions in New South Wales and Queensland. If you want to find state-specific clinical guidelines and health directories for those areas, Queensland Health has great resources.

If you live outside our current service area and are looking for local digital health support in Western Australia or Victoria, we are not currently serving those areas. We plan to offer services in the future and will keep you informed.