Rebates
  
Private Health Insurance
Private Speech Pathology is covered under most health fund plans. Speech Pathologists at Brain & Language Connections are registered with the majority of private health funds for rebates. If you find that we aren't registered with your specific fund, please contact us so we can rectify this for you. Every effort will be made to ensure that we are registered, so you can receive the health fund rebate that you are entitled to.
You do not need a doctor's referral to see a Speech Pathologist however some private health funds may require a doctor's referral letter before they will pay benefits for speech pathology. Every health insurance policy is different, so you will need to check the specific terms and conditions of yours.
Chronic Disease Management -previously the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program
The Chronic Disease Management (CDM) program provides Medicare rebates for allied health services (i.e. Speech Pathology, Audiology, Occupational Therapy) for individuals who have a chronic medical condition. A chronic medical condition is one that has been or will be present for at least 6 months.
You may be eligible to claim a rebate through Medicare for these services if you have a chronic condition that is being managed by your GP under an Enhanced Primary Care Plan.
The CDM benefit provides a maximum of five (5) total rebates per calendar year, for all Allied Health services. This means that if you are accessing more than one Allied Health service, you are entitled to 5 rebates across all the services combined, not 5 rebates per service. The benefit cannot be used in conjunction with private health care benefits.
If you are unsure as to you (or your child’s) eligibility please discuss it with your GP.
The rebate is currently $50.95 (as at February 2011). Medicare rebates are indexed on 1 November each year.
Helping Children With Autism Package
Medicare rebates for Speech Pathology services are now available to assist in the diagnosis and treatment of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), or a condition which comes under the term Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD).
Up to four (4) Medicare rebate services in total will be available for allied health professionals, including Speech Pathologists, to collaborate with the referring practitioner in the diagnosis of a child (aged under 13 years) and/or the development of a child’s PDD treatment and management plan.
A further twenty (20) Medicare rebate services in total will also be available for eligible allied health professionals, including Speech Pathologists, to provide treatment to a child (aged under 15 years and who was under 13 years at the time of receiving their diagnosis from the specialist and the development of the PDD treatment and management plan). The twenty (20) services are for a lifetime, and may apply across a Speech Pathologist, Psychologist and Occupational Therapist, as determined by the treatment and management plan prepared by the referring specialist.
For more information, click here.
Speech Pathologists at Brain & Language Connections are registered providers of the Medicare Benefits Scheme.
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