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Post by tallgirl on Aug 5, 2019 17:05:17 GMT 7
I'm trying to get assessed for mental health disability. The assessment has to be performed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. Medicare keeps telling me on the phone or in the office that mental health clinicians can claim a rebate for a DPS assessment (and bulk bill if they choose). They refuse to put it into writing because they tell me that this process is so well known there's no need to do so. The clinicians keep telling me that Medicare's mental health rebates only cover therapy/counseling and they're not allowed by Medicare to assess me if they claim the rebate. My GP can't help me because every time she writes a referral to a clinician who bulk bills concession card holders I get told they can't help me because Medicare won't cover the sessions. Does Medicare allow rebates for DSP assessments for mental health? If they do, is this part of what the "Better Access" 10 annual session program includes or is it under something else? How do people on Newstart get DSP assessments for mental health if Medicare doesn't pay a rebate for it so clinicians can bulk bill? Is there a different program I'm supposed to apply to that I don't know about yet?
My GP has written me 5 referrals to clinicians who told me they're not allowed to bulk bill for this and my GP doesn't know who else to try. |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 18:56:01 GMT 7
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 5, 2019 19:15:52 GMT 7
I'm trying to get assessed for mental health disability. The assessment has to be performed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. it is your doctor that signs off on a DSP application! yes you need to do the 10 visit assessment to comply with c/link but no clinical psychologist or psychiatrist is authorised to sign off on a DSP application. yes you need to have the cash to pay your treating clinical psychologist or psychiatrist but it is claimable through Medicare. Not fully but most of it. Check some of my posts from about 2012 to August 2013. All the best Denis |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 5, 2019 19:23:30 GMT 7
I'm trying to get assessed for mental health disability. The assessment has to be performed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. it is your doctor that signs off on a DSP application! yes you need to do the 10 visit assessment to comply with c/link but no clinical psychologist or psychiatrist is authorised to sign off on a DSP application. yes you need to have the cash to pay your treating clinical psychologist or psychiatrist but it is claimable through Medicare. Not fully but most of it. Check some of my posts from about 2012 to August 2013. All the best Denis Thanks Denis-NFA ..... that's pretty much my prior quick take on it. Nice work! Cheers bear |
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Post by nomadic on Aug 5, 2019 19:24:23 GMT 7
A bit different because I saw a neurologist for a DSP report and I paid after the appointment by debit card and Medibank put the claim back into my account without me doing anything else. As I recall it was about 70% back but a long time ago so not sure. All the best with it.
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 5, 2019 20:36:13 GMT 7
A bit different because I saw a neurologist for a DSP report and I paid after the appointment by debit card and Medibank put the claim back into my account without me doing anything else. As I recall it was about 70% back but a long time ago so not sure. All the best with it. same same nomadicI'm going back to 2012/2013 in Cairns and say a visit cost $100 then I would get back about $70. |
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Post by tallgirl on Aug 5, 2019 22:06:18 GMT 7
I'm trying to get assessed for mental health disability. The assessment has to be performed by a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist. it is your doctor that signs off on a DSP application! yes you need to do the 10 visit assessment to comply with c/link but no clinical psychologist or psychiatrist is authorised to sign off on a DSP application. yes you need to have the cash to pay your treating clinical psychologist or psychiatrist but it is claimable through Medicare. Not fully but most of it. Check some of my posts from about 2012 to August 2013. All the best Denis I think I'm still confused. I've been told my Medicare that I need separate things: An application, and two reports by clinical psychologists or psychiatrists that describe how my mental health condition impacts my ability to work/function. According to Medicare these assessments by CP's have to tick all the points in the DSP tables. So, if my GP is going to sign off on the DSP application that my mental health condition affects my ability to socialize with others, it has to be in both assessments. According to Medicare I give the assessments to my GP, who fills out/signs off on the DSP application for me. Was that wrong? |
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 5, 2019 22:35:31 GMT 7
I think I'm still confused. I've been told my Medicare that I need separate things: An application, and two reports by clinical psychologists or psychiatrists that describe how my mental health condition impacts my ability to work/function. According to Medicare these assessments by CP's have to tick all the points in the DSP tables. So, if my GP is going to sign off on the DSP application that my mental health condition affects my ability to socialize with others, it has to be in both assessments. According to Medicare I give the assessments to my GP, who fills out/signs off on the DSP application for me. Was that wrong? You are focusing on the wrong people. Medicare knows stuff all about DSP! They have no clue. It is your GP who sets the table. That you keep blaming Medicare does not help you. Forget Medicare and never speak to them again! It is Centrelink that you NEED to convince. Not the lovely folk in Medicare! |
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Post by highlander4000 on Aug 6, 2019 8:05:25 GMT 7
My story is that i finally went to a psychiatrist because i was really struggling with work for the dole. She prescribed me risperidone that first meeting and said her consultations were 300 dollars. I told her i was on newstart and she sent me to the acute care centre for voluntary visits and prescriptions. This continued for a month as acute care centre is for a short time only. They then referred me as a voluntary patient to the RBWH mental health unit for prescriptions from the psychiatrist and fortnightly meetings with the psychologist. Finally they also both filled out a dsp form and got me a dsp asessment. I think clinical means in the hospital. I was fortunately never involuntarily committed although they asked if id like to stay for a few days, no thanks, im no harm to myself or others. I was also lucky not to be put on clozapine as that one scares me because of its death possibility. We tried 3 antipsychotics and antidepressants before getting the right mix. I never needed to use medicare except when buying medication. Good luck.
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Post by nomadic on Aug 6, 2019 19:18:50 GMT 7
I think I'm still confused. I've been told my Medicare that I need separate things: An application, and two reports by clinical psychologists or psychiatrists that describe how my mental health condition impacts my ability to work/function. According to Medicare these assessments by CP's have to tick all the points in the DSP tables. So, if my GP is going to sign off on the DSP application that my mental health condition affects my ability to socialize with others, it has to be in both assessments. According to Medicare I give the assessments to my GP, who fills out/signs off on the DSP application for me. Was that wrong? You are focusing on the wrong people. Medicare knows stuff all about DSP! They have no clue. It is your GP who sets the table. That you keep blaming Medicare does not help you. Forget Medicare and never speak to them again! It is Centrelink that you NEED to convince. Not the lovely folk in Medicare! Maybe I'm confused denis also but I think tallgirl is concerned about the cost of it not being covered by Medibank more than getting DSP info from them. You are right they probably know nothing. She can't afford to pay the full amount if no rebate. |
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Post by Denis-NFA on Aug 6, 2019 20:14:25 GMT 7
Maybe I'm confused denis also but I think tallgirl is concerned about the cost of it not being covered by Medibank more than getting DSP info from them. You are right they probably know nothing. She can't afford to pay the full amount if no rebate. Yes nomadic. I appreciate that but there is no point in going 'off' against Mediscare because they are more bound by rules than c/link. If it is a problem of payment then may I suggest tallgirl that you go and explain your situation to one or all of the charity/church type organizations in your area or indeed get in touch with Senator Siewarts office to explore possibilities. nomadic. The most eye watering payment I had to make was $250 cash to a psychiatrist prior to coming to the Philippines. Most of it came back through Mediscare but I was still out of pocket. |
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Post by tasjo on Aug 6, 2019 22:08:14 GMT 7
I suspect Medicare have confused something...
The only time I have heard of needing 2 reports is when applying for permanent incapacity from your super (I wonder if that's what they thought you were asking?)
For DSP mental health impairment you need a diagnosis from either a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist... These can be done via the better access plan but not all of them do bulk bill (I've had a plan for about 3 yrs and my particular psychologist doesn't bulk bill)
From others experience, if you can get referred to someone at a public hospital then you would be bulk billed. But, if you intend to use anything for a DSP claim check that it is a clinical psychologist and not a registered one.
Your GP should be able to refer you for the better access plan... I had a clinical psychologist who accepted my psychologists reports and was happy to do a report confirming that he agreed with my psychologist for DSP purposes.
Just one thing to be aware of as well - if you haven't pursued any treatment in the past (or currently)for your mental health impairment it could be difficult to get through the 'fully diagnosed treated and stabilised' assessment.
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Post by leanne on Aug 7, 2019 20:26:51 GMT 7
I'm trying to get assessed for mental health disability. The assessment has to be performed by a clinical psychologist or
psychiatrist.
- YES, it is fundamental (See point 1).
Medicare keeps telling me on the phone or in the office that mental health clinicians can claim a rebate for a DPS assessment (and
bulk bill if they choose). They refuse to put it into writing because they tell me that this process is so well known there's no need to do so.
- They refuse because it's NOT TRUE, in fact the statement is misleading and ambiguous (See point 5). You should always reply with requests such as "OK, so where is it stated, give me a link", or, "Please show me/refer me to the guidelines, policies or procedurse" (fact check). The truth is that it does NOT exists (surely not for this purpose), although there are similar services that can be used,
maybe "properly abused" for a very good purpose (Again, see point 5). Indeed, why specialists and GPs (even those with mental health training) do NOT know about it?
The existing similar services are often optional, scattered on the territory (not uniform, and none in the regional areas), all-purposes, and under-funded. In fact, in some places it takes 6-12 months just to book the first appointment. Worse, because it is NOT specifically designed for this purpose it is difficult to obtain the necessary medical report/support letter. All this meaning that it is another good reason to let your GP lead the procedure and write the main medical report for DHS. The good thing is that with the help of your practitioner (referral) you may be lucky to book (State and Territories) similar free services (such as public hospitals and specific mental health services), even though sometimes it is hard, and getting worse every day (lack of funds, frequent changes in services provisions and providers). The real question should be: is it done on purpose (to undermine these services) or it is just ineptitude?
The clinicians keep telling me that Medicare's mental health rebates only cover therapy/counseling and they're not allowed by Medicare to assess me if they claim the rebate.
- TRUE (mostly). Still, you should ALSO use/access them because having a medical treatment history (paper trail) is very useful, and not only for your health (treatment) but also for services/claims purposes (assessment) or as specialist referral to another specialist (e.g. Psychologist to Psychiatrist).
My GP can't help me because every time she writes a referral to a clinician who bulk bills concession card holders I get told they can't help me because Medicare won't cover the sessions.
- TRUE (mostly). Frequently because, as said before, these services are not homogeneous. Sometimes it helps (if you can afford it) to see another GP (look for those that have mental health training). You may have to pay a one-time GAP but it's usually worth, they are most regarded by the system and also know better about the available local services (updated).
Does Medicare allow rebates for DSP assessments for mental health?
- NO. There is no such thing for ANY condition. BTW: the only assessors that seem so good at anything (sic!) are the DHS assessors, you never know who are you getting, what their competence/specialisation is, and you are lucky if you get to know their name (redacted on the reports). Again, another good reason for having your own strong medical evidence, better if detailed and written by a specialist. Even better if they belong/work/consult for a university/public hospital. It's always a matter of case by case, but for relatively new o not recognise conditions it would be quite essential. CREDIBILITY is the key: your medical records vs the opinion of unknown-unqualifiedly (often) assessor/s, that's also why DHS omits the details.
If they do, is this part of what the "Better Access" 10 annual session program includes or is it under something else?
- NO. You can read what "Better Access" is for using google. Essentially, it is for treatment, NOT for assessments. Thats why (usually) it's done by a (cheeper) General Phsicologist that DHS does NOT recognise as valid for DSP purposes (again please read point 5).
How do people on Newstart get DSP assessments for mental health if Medicare doesn't pay a rebate for it so clinicians can bulk bill?
- You would like a system that works, we all do, especially meant to cover for the vulnerable. Unfortunately, we have to fight for it. In the past someone started the fight stating that people sick should receive help from the system (solidarity), lets call it welfare (Invalidity Benefit/Pension, unemployment, etc). We all should be able to do better then that, because we are lucky to start from a better position, rights previously conquered, fair rights that our fellow citizens had already fought for, for them and us. Seems that politicians have suitably forgotten, I haven't. Aren't we all here also for this?
Is there a different program I'm supposed to apply to that I don't know about yet?
- NO, I don't think so. In any case, the best way to find out is to continue questioning, mostly the system (GPs, hospitals, health services, etc) AND politicians. If you find a gap REPORT it. Try them all: GREENs (good change to get help and answers), LABORs (dipends a lot who you contact) and also the lovely and most caring LIBERALs-NATIONALs (who maybe will give you an answer, probably beautifully crafted and twisted, as much as useless). How good is the Coalition? :-)
My GP has written me 5 referrals to clinicians who told me they're not allowed to bulk bill for this and my GP doesn't know who else to try.
- The first rule is NEVER give up, the second BE PROUD OF YOUR BATTLE. Seems your GP is fine (trying hard), you too so... just keep insisting, questioning and fighting. ASSERTIVENESS and PERSEVERANCE always pay.
TO RECAP:
You're on the right track, asking and involving as many people and services as possible, but keep in mind that every case is different and every State has different clinical services.
Furthermore, medical records and forms are no longer standard and addressed as accurately as they were before. In fact, once there was a very detailed doctor's form (See point 1B), easy to follow and useful to remind you of all the necessary medical requirements (you can still use it as a trace for your GP).
All this to stress out that, although not essential, the most appropriate approach is to have your GP write the medical documentation.
Cheers, Leanne-
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Post by leanne on Aug 7, 2019 20:42:54 GMT 7
Correction, please read as:
Furthermore, medical records and forms are no longer standard and addressed as accurately as they were before. In fact, once there was a very detailed doctor's form (similar to the one in point 2), easy to follow and useful to remind you of all the necessary medical requirements (you can still use it as a trace for your GP, See AUS109).
Sorry, Leanne-
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