Medicare Rebates

Many of our All Abilities therapists are registered to provide services under various Medicare plans. These plans must be obtained PRIOR to your first session and presented to administration BEFORE the commencement of your appointment or the rebate will not be claimable. Most plans can be provided by your GP but PDD plans (see below) must be obtained from a paediatrician. These plans are not available for everyone and it is important that you discuss your eligibility and the specific rebate with your doctor.

All Abilities offers Bulk Billed Occupational Therapy and Speech Pathology services, meaning there is no gap to pay. Please note that session duration is limited to 20 minutes when bulk billing and the number of sessions scheduled is limited by the number allocated on the plan you provide. You may choose to use your bulk billed sessions for an assessment with one of our Occupational Therapists or Speech Pathologists. Your assessment would be split up over up to 5 x 20 minute sessions and a summary of assessment scores is provided. There is a further cost associated for a full assessment report. Bulk billed assessments are not applicable to all assessment types and should be discussed with our helpful administrative staff prior to booking. All bulk billed appointments must be requested at the time of booking otherwise rebated sessions will be provided with a gap payment required.

Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP)

Previously known as an Enhanced Primary Care Plan, a CMDP is provided by a GP and entitles an eligible person to 5 rebated allied health sessions per calendar year. The 5 allied health services can be made up of one type of service or a combination of different types of services.

To be eligible for a CDMP the client must have a chronic condition and complex care needs being managed by a medical practitioner under a shared care plan or a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangement. A chronic medical condition is one that has been or is likely to be present for more than 6 months. A client is considered to have complex care needs if they require ongoing care from a multidisciplinary team consisting of their GP and at least 2 other health or care providers.

Client’s seeking rebates under this scheme must have a valid referral form that forms part of a GP Management Plan or Team Care Arrangement.

More information about the CDMP can be found here.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Services

A person who is of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent can obtain a further 5 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year under the Follow Up Allied Health Services scheme. These session can be used before or after the sessions allocated on a Chronic Disease Management Plan or Mental Health Care Plan. Eligibility is similar to that outlined in the Chronic Disease Management Plan.

More information about this scheme is available here.

Helping Children With Autism

Medicare item 135 was developed to provide early treatment for children under 13 with Autism or any other Pervasive Developmental Disorder (PDD). This referral must be made by a Paediatrician or Psychiatrist and can only be claimed once in a lifetime. The plan must be put in place by the child’s 13th birthday and used up until the age of 15. A maximum of 20 services can be provided under this plan however are provided in treatment courses of up to 10 sessions before a new referral is required. Services under this plan can be provided by Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists, Psychologists, Audiologists, Optometrists, Orthoptists and Physiotherapists.

More information about Medicare Item 135 is available here.