1
What does a session cost?
My fee is $220 for a standard 50-minute session. This fee usually increases at the start of each calendar year, and you’ll be told well before any change affects you.
If you have a valid referral and a Mental Health Care Plan, Medicare currently pays a rebate of $101.55 per session. That leaves an out-of-pocket cost of $118.45.
2
Do I need a referral for psychology?
Not to see me — you’re very welcome to self-refer, and plenty of people do. But you do need one to claim a Medicare rebate, and without it you’ll pay the full fee of $220.
For the kind of longer-term work I do, most people find the rebate makes a real difference, so it’s usually worth the trip to your GP first.
3
How do I get a Mental Health Care Plan?
Book a longer appointment with your usual GP and tell reception it’s for a mental health care plan, so they allocate enough time. Your GP will talk with you about what’s going on, and if they think psychological treatment is appropriate, they’ll prepare the plan and write you a referral.
One thing worth knowing: since recent changes to Medicare, the referral generally needs to come from your usual medical practitioner, or from a GP at the practice where you’re registered with MyMedicare. A psychiatrist or paediatrician can also refer you directly. If you’ve been going to whichever bulk-billing clinic has an opening, it’s worth checking this before your appointment.
4
How do I send my referral to Kate?
Bring it with you, or send it through when you book so it’s on file before your first session. Under Medicare rules I have to have the referral in hand at your first appointment for the rebate to be claimable — not afterwards — so getting it to me early avoids a frustrating conversation on the day.
Call (07) 3801 7017 to book and my admin team will tell you where to send it.
5
How many sessions can I claim?
Medicare covers up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year, and they come in two parts. Your first referral covers a maximum of 6 sessions. After those, you return to your GP for a review, and if further treatment is appropriate they can refer you for the remaining 4, up to the annual cap of 10. I’m required to write to your referrer at the end of each course of treatment, which is what gives them the information they need for that review.
The 10 sessions reset on 1 January each year. Your Mental Health Care Plan itself doesn’t expire — you generally won’t need a whole new plan each year, just a new referral.
6
Which MBS item numbers apply?
I am registered with Medicare as an eligible psychologist, and I bill under the Registered Psychologist item numbers below. Rebates shown are current as at 1 July 2026.
• Item 80110 — individual session, 50 minutes or longer, in consulting rooms. The rebate is $101.55.
• Item 91170 — individual session, 50 minutes or longer, delivered by video telehealth. Same rebate of $101.55.
• Item 80100 — individual session of 20 to 50 minutes, in consulting rooms. Rarely used, as my standard appointment is 50 minutes. The rebate is $72.00.
You may see higher rebate figures quoted elsewhere online. Those are the Clinical Psychologist items (the 80000 series), which are billed by psychologists who hold an area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology. It reflects how Medicare classifies the provider, not the length or content of your session.
7
What about a Chronic Condition Management Plan?
In some circumstances a GP Chronic Condition Management Plan can be used to access an additional 5 allied health sessions per calendar year, billed under item 10968. These plans replaced the old Chronic Disease Management Plans on 1 July 2025, and attract a rebate of $63.40 for the full fee of the appointment.
Two things to be aware of. This is a total of 5 sessions per year across all allied health, not 5 per profession — so if you’re also seeing a physiotherapist, dietitian or exercise physiologist under the same plan, you’re sharing that allocation. And the rebate is considerably lower than the Better Access rebate. Your GP is the right person to advise whether this pathway applies to you.
8
Do you accept NDIS, DVA or WorkCover?
Yes.
There are no out-of-pocket expenses for NDIS or WorkCover clients. For DVA, entitlements have changed in recent years and there may now be limits on what can be claimed, so I’d recommend confirming your cover with DVA directly before booking.
If you have funding through any of these, my admin team can invoice the third party directly on your behalf, provided we hold the relevant documentation from you.
9
Does private health insurance cover psychology?
Some funds cover part of the cost through their extras cover. The amount varies a great deal between funds and levels of cover, so your insurer is the only one who can tell you what you’re entitled to.
One rule catches people out: you cannot claim Medicare and private health insurance for the same session. Many people use their 10 Medicare-rebated sessions first, then switch to private health cover for any sessions after that. We can’t process private health rebates for you, but we’ll give you an invoice to claim with.
10
Is there a Medicare Safety Net?
Yes. Out-of-pocket costs on Medicare-eligible services count towards the Medicare Safety Net thresholds. Once you pass a threshold within a calendar year, Medicare pays a higher proportion of the cost for the rest of that year. For item 80110 the Extended Medicare Safety Net benefit cap is $358.35.
If you’re having regular sessions and also seeing other doctors, it’s worth checking whether you’re registered for the Safety Net — particularly if you’re part of a family or couple, since you may need to register to be counted together.
11
How do I pay?
Payment is taken in full on the day of your appointment, and my admin team then processes any Medicare rebate you’re entitled to, which goes back into your nominated bank account.
Our preferred method is credit card, held securely on our encrypted practice management system. You can also pay by a link emailed to you, or by direct debit against an invoice.
12
What if I need to cancel?
I have a 24-hour cancellation policy, and you’ll be asked for credit card details to secure your first appointment.
• More than 24 hours’ notice — reschedule at no charge.
• Less than 24 hours’ notice — the full session fee applies, and it can’t be claimed through Medicare.
• Where it’s possible to reschedule you within the same week, there’s no fee.
I know that a policy like this can feel harsh when you’re unwell or something has gone wrong at home. Working on my own means a late cancellation is an appointment that can’t go to someone else, which is the reason it exists. If you know early, tell us early and we’ll usually find a way around it.
