What does Bernadette charge for therapy?

Fees payable – Please note fees will apply for additional services i.e. training, consultancy, travel and extended sessions.

Our prices for Counselling and Focussed Psychological Strategies sessions will be increasing and coming into effect from 1st February 2023.

The Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative MBS schedule fees and rebates below have been updated to include the 1.6% indexation to take effect from 1 July 2022.

The Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) have made the following recommendations for Accredited Mental Health Social Workers.

A service fee of $180 can incur a Medicare rebate of $79.05.

Consultation/Session	AASW Recommended Fee	Fee from February 2023
Individual Session	$270	$180
Family/Groupwork/Couples Child & Parent Sessions	$270	$200
Child Sessions	$270	$180
Professional Supervision	$270 (subject to GST)	$180
Third Party Billing	$270 (subject to GST)	$270 (subject to GST)
Telehealth/Telephone	$270	$180
Assessment/Report Writing	$270 per hour (may be subject to GST	$180

The recommended fees also reflect the time involved, over and above the nominated service time, on non-billable preparation, letter writing, referrals, etc. For example, for a one-hour session, there is often half an hour of extra work involved that is covered within this hourly session fee.

Medicare Benefits
Many mental health services are paid for partly by the government under Medicare. To receive these services, you’ll need a Mental Health Treatment Plan from a doctor.

A Mental Health Treatment Plan outlines what treatment is required and why, with whom and the number of sessions available.

Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items for Social Workers

The MBS schedule fees and rebates above have been updated to include the 1.6% indexation to take effect from 1 July 2022.

Under Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative. Details of Individual Face-to-Face sessions of Focussed Psychological Strategies provided by an eligible social worker.

You may be eligible for rebates from Medicare. A service fee of $180 Medicare rebate of $79.05.

MBS Item Numbers

Individual Face-to-Face sessions of Focussed Psychological Strategies provided by an eligible social worker.

MBS Item Number	Service Length
80160	More than 50 minutes
80165	More than 50 minutes (at place other than consulting rooms)

Telehealth and Telephone sessions of Focussed Psychological Strategies provided by an eligible social worker.

MBS Item Number	Service Length
80161	Telehealth (regionally based) – at least 50 minutes
91176	Telehealth – at least 50 minutes
91188	Telephone – at least 50 minutes (for when video conferencing is not available)

Third Party Billing
Please ensure you have a Claim number or billing code and addressee for account to be sent. Third Party billing cannot be carried out if the client does not have permission (i.e. claim details) to bill the third party. If you have questions about fees, please contact Bernadette on 0437 792 665.