How many Medicare psychology sessions can a client get per year?
Under the Better Access initiative, a client can receive up to 10 individual Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions per calendar year. Sessions do not roll over; the count resets on 1 January. Up to 10 group therapy sessions are also available on top of the individual sessions.
Department of Health and Aged Care, Better Access initiative
MBS Online, Better Access items
The annual limit
Better Access allows up to 10 individual mental health treatment sessions each calendar year with an eligible psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist. This is per calendar year, not per plan or per referral, and unused sessions are not carried into the next year. To claim, the client needs a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral from an eligible practitioner.
How the sessions are released
A referral does not release all 10 at once. The initial course of treatment is a maximum of 6 sessions. After that, the client returns to their referring practitioner for a review. If further treatment is needed, a subsequent course can then be referred, up to a total of 10 individual sessions for the calendar year.
Group sessions
Separately, up to 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year can be accessed. These do not count against the 10 individual sessions, so a client using group therapy still keeps their full individual allowance.
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