Fees
Payment
This is a private billing practice. The fee for a standard session of 50-55 minutes is $250. This is below the recommended price set by the Australian Psychological Society (currently $311). Longer sessions (occasionally required when undertaking EMDR) are charged proportionately depending on the time required. No charge is made for outside of session contact, unless it surpasses 15 minutes of support on the phone. Services required for involvement in court proceedings will incur a charge depending on the time required. A relationship analysis provided via the Gottman Institute will incur an extra charge of $50.
If you become involved in legal proceedings that require my participation, you will be expected to pay for my professional time even if I am called to testify by another party. Because of the difficulty of legal involvement, I charge $350 per hour for preparation and attendance at any legal proceeding.
Payments may be made by EFTPOS (Visa, Mastercard or American Express) or cash. Credit card payments can be made over the phone.
If your account remains unpaid after 14 days I will attempt to contact you. Outstanding accounts unpaid after 30 days are referred to a collection agency.
Medicare Options
If you are receiving services through the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative you are able to receive 10 sessions in the one calendar year. You must be referred by your GP, Psychiatrist or Pediatrician via a Mental Health Treatment Plan. These plans are often limited to short-term treatment approaches designed to work out specific problems that interfere with a person’s usual level of functioning. It may be necessary to seek approval for more therapy after the first six sessions, which will require an appointment with your referrer. I will correspond with your relevant medical provider after the second, sixth and tenth session.
I am able to process your Medicare rebate on the day of your session, provided that you can pay the full fee, and have your Medicare card and a debit/cheque account.
Private Health
If you have Ancillary Cover with a private health insurance fund, you may claim a rebate for Clinical Psychology services. Contact your health fund provider for the latest rebate rates, quoting the item code for an indiviual consultation of AO70, for HBF clients the code is Y200 and BUPA is P200.
I am able to process your private health rebate on the day of your session, provided that you can pay the full fee, and have your private health card.
Other Services
If you are covered by the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, your costs will be covered. However, you will still require a referral from a GP or Psychiatrist and be required to have a review after every 10 sessions. However, you will be required to pay for any short notice cancellations and missed appointments.
If you were referred under Worker’s Compensation or Motor Vehicle Accident insurance, I will bill direct to the insurer, but you will still be ultimately responsible for meeting your account. Therefore it is important that you provide a referral from a GP, ensure your claim have been accepted by the insurer and that they will pay for psychological services. If these conditions are not met, the account will be your responsibility.
You will be required to pay for any short notice cancellations and missed appointments. Insurance companies will not cover this.