Medicare, DVA, Private Insurance & Self Funding

Private Practice

My fees are affordable as I am aiming to provide a service that does not break your bank account.  Fees may be negotiated if there is a financial strain and where there is no access to Medicare rebates or bulk billing, NDIS or DVA coverage.   Fees for Individual Therapy are different to those fees charged for Couples Therapy.    

 

Medicare

 

If you have a mental health treatment plan obtained from your GP which requests you access mental health support, then you will be eligible for a Medicare rebate or bulk billing depending on your choice. Usually, a person is eligible for up to ten sessions and sometimes more for the term of the plan which is usually twelve months. However, a person may not need to use all of the sessions as it depends on their progress in counseling sessions.

 

I am a registered Medicare provider.  Fees are charged according to Medicare's Fees Schedule for Social Workers. 

 

Private Health Insurance and Department of Veteran Affairs

 

If you have private health insurance or have a DVA card,  check with your insurer, to find out if you are eligible for a service without paying upfront yourself.  You may need a referral letter from your doctor. A number of private health funds do not refer to anyone other than a psychologist. Check this with your fund. Fees are charged (DVA card holders) according to DVA's schedule of fees for a mental health social worker.   For those in a private health fund, fees will be according to my private practice fees schedule.  I do not provide a service for WorkCover clients. This is only because my capacity is often so full working with clients under GP mental health treatment plans. 

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National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

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I am able to provide Individual Counselling under ‘Therapeutic Supports’. Fees are charged according to my schedule of fees as a private practitioner.  My fees fall well under the maximum cost allowable per hour according to the NDIS pricing guide.  I am only able to work with participants under self-managed or plan-managed NDIS plans. I usually work with a small number of NDIS participants as capacity issues limit my availability and time.    

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Referrals

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I largely take referrals from GPs at medical centres. However, self-referrals are accepted by contacting me on my mobile: 0457 179 532 

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Professional services are welcome to contact me for any inquiries.  Simply give me a call or email me and we can discuss the details. My email address is: lisabuckley@focusonpsychotherapy.net  

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Ideally, most of the people I see have gone to their doctor and have obtained a mental health treatment plan, and then the doctor arranges for the treatment plan to be emailed to me. I then contact the person with the plan and schedule an appointment. Sometimes the person will ring me themselves and arrange the appointment following their doctor's visit. If your GP is not aware of my service, you can provide them with my website address. If your doctor has given you a copy of the treatment plan then bring it with you to your session. Also, bring your Medicare card so that I can obtain the details and bulk bill Medicare for your visit. 

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If you wish to access my service without a GP mental health treatment plan, you can ring me, email or contact me via this website to discuss the private fee for the visit and make an appointment.  I do not accept cash. Payment is via direct deposit to my account via an invoice for payment.      

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