Support that starts with a conversation with your GP
With a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may be entitled to Medicare-rebated psychology sessions at Penrith or online.
Medicare, NDIS and private health funds accepted.
Can I see a psychologist on Medicare?
Yes, with a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP. Medicare pays a rebate towards each session and you pay the gap. Psychology is available at our Penrith centre and by telehealth. Appointments are arranged through our intake process rather than booked online.
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
It is a plan your GP prepares with you when they have diagnosed a mental health condition. It sets out what you are dealing with, what you want to work on, and refers you to a psychologist. It also unlocks a Medicare rebate for a set number of sessions each calendar year.
This is a different pathway to the rest of Medicare allied health.
Physiotherapy, podiatry, dietetics and exercise physiology sit under a chronic condition management plan and share one pooled allowance. Psychology sits under Better Access, with its own plan and its own allowance. Having used podiatry sessions this year does not reduce what you have for psychology.
The GP appointment to prepare the plan is usually longer than a standard consultation. It is worth saying so when you book it, so the practice allows the time.
Am I eligible?
If you are not sure whether you qualify, that is a conversation for your GP rather than something to work out on your own. If you would like to talk it through first, call us on 1300 123 674.
You can usually access Medicare-rebated psychology if:
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How Medicare psychology works
There are four stages between talking to your GP and your first session. Psychology appointments are arranged through our intake process rather than booked online.
See your GP.
Ask about a Mental Health Treatment Plan. The appointment is usually longer than a standard consultation, so book accordingly.Your GP prepares the plan and the referral.
You send us an enquiry.
Psychology appointments are arranged through our intake process rather than booked online.We claim the rebate on the day.
You pay only the gap, and we report back to your GP.
What to bring to your first appointment
If you do not have the paperwork in front of you, send us an enquiry anyway. We can usually sort the details out before your first appointment.
What our psychologists help with
Whether Medicare will cover your sessions depends on the plan and referral your GP has written, not on the condition itself. Your GP decides that.
Connected care
Your mental health is not separate from the rest of your health, and your care does not have to be either.
Your psychologist can work alongside the rest of the team.
Where it helps, and with your consent, your psychologist may coordinate with a physiotherapist, dietitian or exercise physiologist you are already seeing.
Only with your consent, and only what is needed.
Nothing is shared beyond your treating team without your agreement.
Where you can be seen
Medicare psychology is available at our Penrith centre, and online by telehealth.
For GPs and practice managers
OnePointHealth accepts chronic condition management referrals across podiatry, physiotherapy, exercise physiology, dietetics and psychology, at seven centres across Western Sydney, the Blue Mountains and the North Shore.
Call 1300 123 674 or send a referral through our enquiry form.
What we provide:
Written reports back after initial assessment and at the end of the referral period.
Rebates claimed on site, so your patient pays only the gap.
Appointments across seven centres, with home visits and telehealth where appropriate.
Direct contact with the treating practitioner rather than a call centre.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a referral to see a psychologist?
Only for the Medicare rebate. You can see a psychologist privately without one, and you can still claim through your health fund if psychology is on your extras.
Does using podiatry or physio sessions reduce my psychology sessions?
No. Psychology sits under a separate Medicare pathway with its own allowance.
What happens when my sessions run out?
Your GP reviews your plan and may issue a further referral, or you can continue privately. We will tell you where you are up to rather than letting you find out at the desk.
Can I book online?
Not for psychology. Every psychology appointment, including follow-ups, goes through our enquiry and intake process so the right practitioner is matched to you.
How long will I wait for a first appointment?
Wait times vary by centre and practitioner. Send us an enquiry and we will tell you the current position rather than quote an average that may not apply to you.
Do you see children and teenagers?
Yes, at all three centres. A Mental Health Treatment Plan works the same way for a young person, prepared by their GP.
Taking the first step is enough
Send us an enquiry and we will send you an intake form and be in touch about availability. If you have already spoken to your GP, mention it and we will pick it up from there.