Referals
Referral Information for Medical Practitioners
This Better Outcomes in Mental Health program is designed to provide GPs with support from Psychologists in treating people with a mental health disorder. The service is particularly suitable for low-income earners or those who require one on one intervention regularly with minimal out of pocket costs associated with their treatment. Tanya Nardone can provide the most appropriate Focused Psychological strategy included under the Better Outcomes in Mental health Care initiative. There is a small co-payment required by the patient.
These evidence based strategies include:
- Psycho-education (including motivational interviewing)
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Cognitive interventions
- Relaxation strategies
- Skills training
- Interpersonal therapy
Better Access to Mental Health Care
This initiative aims to increase community access to General Practitioners, Psychiatrists, Psychologists and other allied mental health professionals for mental health care. Medicare rebates are available to provide early intervention, assessment, treatment and management of patients with mental health disorders.
- GP Mental Health Care Plan (item 2710) $150 rebate ($150 schedule fee)
- GP Mental Health Review (Item 2712) $100 rebate ($100 schedule fee)
- GP mental health Consultation (Item 2713) $66 rebate ($66 schedule fee 20+min consult)
Patients with a GP Mental Health Care Plan can be referred to a Psychologist or other allied mental health professionals, and are eligible to receive a rebate from Medicare for up to 12 sessions in a calendar year.
Training is not mandatory to bill the new GP items or to refer for psychological services. However, voluntary training is strongly recommended.
Who can refer to this service?
Since November 2006, all referrals to this program require a GP Mental Health Care Plan (Item 2710) to be provided to the referring Psychologist upon referring new patients. GPs are no longer required to have completed Level 1 training or to be registered with Medicare Australia to refer under this program. For more information and/or referral forms, please contact Tanya Nardone at tanya@tanyanardone.com or at 0405 735 243 anytime.