“This is a huge advancement for the mental health of a great number of ordinary Australians, particularly those in Melbourne’s outer eastern suburbs which are very under-resourced for mental health facilities and professionals,” David Stickels said.

Effective November 1st 2006, patients will be entitled to 12 Medicare funded session per calendar year. Registered psychologists will be able to provide services under Medicare, based on the established Medicare pattern of medical services being provided by general practitioners and medical specialists. Under this process, patients will require a referral from their GP to a registered psychologist to be eligible for the Medicare rebate, which will be $75 for general psychologists and $110 for specialist clinical psychologists.

The David Stickels & Associates group operates at three locations, Ringwood, Rowville and Lilydale, with all seven DSA consultants registered under the new Medicare funded program.

“The Government’s position that they would only fund access to high quality, best practice psychological treatments for mental health problems upon referral from a GP is one which all consultants at DSA Psychologists support,” David Stickels said.

“There are a great many patients of our group who will benefit from this Medicare funding initiative. Moreover there are just as many patients who will now be able to access the mental health support for themselves and their children that in the past had been denied to them due to cost.”

These reforms have given mental health a similar standing to general health in the funded Medicare system, allowing all Australians to have access to effective treatment for mental health issues.

“Just as a family GP provides a referral to an ear specialist or surgeon, the Medicare net has been expanded wider to now include the services of registered psychologists.”

The DSA group provides professional psychological services covering the full gamut of issues and problems. Irrespective of the area of need in the mental health realm, DSA is able to assist clients with discretion, confidence and compassion.

A Medicare Consumer Fact Sheet is available for downloading from the Australian Psychological Society website: www.psychology.org.au

For further information on this story contact:

David Stickels
Principal
David Stickels & Associates
Tel (03) 9870 9069
Fax (03) 9870 3407
Email david@dsapsychologists.com.au
Web: www.dsapsychologists.com.au