Clients who have a chronic (or terminal) medical condition and complex care needs, requiring a multidisciplinary approach.

MBS item 10968

The client must be referred by their GP using the ‘Referral Form for Chronic disease Allied health (individual) Services under Medicare’. This can be downloaded here.

Allied Health service for Indigenous Australians who have had a Health Check.

MBS item 81355

Psychology health service provided to a person who is of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent by an eligible psychologist.

Patients must be referred by their GP using a Referral form for follow-up allied health services under Medicare for people of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent.

Children with Autism, Pervasive Developmental Disorder or an eligible disability. Children must be aged under 13 for diagnosis services and aged under 15 for treatment services.

MBS items 82000 and 82015 

Item number 82200 is for assessment and item number 82015 is for early intervention treatment services.

A current referral by an eligible medical practitioner is required. Children can access the autism Medicare services providing they have not already accessed services under the Better Start for Children with a Disability initiative and providing they meet the requirements of each service.

Patients who are currently pregnant or who have been pregnant in the preceding 12 months.

MBS item 81000

Patients must be referred by a GP. GPs are not required to use a specific form to refer patients for these services. The referral may be a letter or note to an eligible allied health professional signed and dated by the referring GP.

Patients with an assessed mental disorder.

MBS items 80000, 80001, 80005, 80010, 80011, and 80015

Professional attendance for the purpose of providing psychological assessment and therapy for a mental disorder by an eligible clinical psychologist.

Patients must be referred by:

• a GP who is managing the patient under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or,
• a medical practitioner managing the patient under a referred psychiatrist or,
• a psychiatrist or pediatrician from and eligible service.

Patients with an assessed mental disorder and suitable form group therapy.

MBS items 80020 and 80021

Professional attendance for the purpose of providing group psychological therapy for a mental disorder by an eligible clinical psychologist. The group must have between 6 and 10 patients.

Patients must be referred by:

• a GP who is managing the patient under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or,
• a medical practitioner managing the patient under a referred psychiatrist or,
• a psychiatrist or pediatrician from and eligible service.

Patients with an assessed mental disorder.

MBS items 80100, 80101, 80105, 80110, 80111 and 80115

Professional attendance for the purpose of providing focused psychological strategies for a mental disorder by an eligible clinical psychologist.

Patients must be referred by:

• a GP who is managing the patient under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or,
• a medical practitioner managing the patient under a referred psychiatrist or,
• a psychiatrist or pediatrician from and eligible service.

Patients with an assessed mental disorder and suitable form group therapy.

MBS items 80120 and 80121

Professional attendance for the purpose of providing focused psychological strategies for a mental disorder in a group setting by an eligible clinical psychologist. The group must have between 6 and 10 patients.

Patients must be referred by:

• a GP who is managing the patient under a Mental Health Treatment Plan or,
• a medical practitioner managing the patient under a referred psychiatrist or,
• a psychiatrist or pediatrician from and eligible service.

Children under the age of six with an eligible disability.

Better Start Iniative

Eligible disabilities are;

• Cerebral palsy
• Deafblindness
• Down syndrome, including mosaic Down syndrome
• Fragile X syndrome with full mutation
• Hearing impairment
• Sight impairment
• Prader-Willi syndrome
• Williams syndrome
• Angelman syndrome
• Kabuki syndrome
• Smith-Magenis syndrome
• CHARGE syndrome
• Cornelia de Lange syndrome
• Rett’s Disorder
• Cri du Chat syndrome; or
• Microcephaly

Children registered with Better Start can access up to $12,000 (maximum $6,000 per year) to pay for early intervention services. These services include:

• audiology
• occupational therapy
• orthoptics
• physiotherapy
• psychology and
• speech pathology.

Up to 35% of a child’s Early intervention Funding may be used to purchase resources, to a maximum of $2,100 per financial year, or $4,200 in total.

Indigenous Australians

Indigenous Australians’ Health Programme

The objective of the IAHP is to provide Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with access to effective high quality, comprehensive, culturally appropriate, primary health care services in urban, regional, rural and remote locations across Australia. This includes through Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Services, wherever possible and appropriate, as well as services across the entire health system that deliver comprehensive, culturally appropriate primary health care.

Individuals may apply for funding through Grant Connect. Activities eligible for grant funding include clinical services provided by AHPs. For more information, follow this link.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with chronic conditions.

Medical Outreach Indigenous Chronic Disease Program

The aim of the MOICDP is to increase access to a range of health services, including expanded primary health for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the treatment and management of chronic disease. This support is in the form of reimbursement, not lump sum payments.

The allocation decisions for this funding are made by the Department of Health and based primarily on identified service gaps. CheckUP is the regional fundsholder for this program. To begin the application process for this funding, fill out an Expression Of Interest form on their website. You are able to contact CheckUP through their website for support and guidance on this process.

For more information on CheckUP’s outreach programs, visit their website.