National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

NDIS is an Australian Government healthcare scheme designed to provide funding to people with a developmental delay or permanent disability. BLC accepts Plan Managed and Self-Managed NDIS referrals for speech therapy services. Please call the NDIS helpline 1800 800110 for more information or visit the website: www.ndis.gov.au 

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Chronic Disease Management Items -previously the Enhanced Primary Care (EPC) Program

The chronic disease management (CDM) Medicare items are part of a government initiative that assists people living with a chronic and/or complex medical illness. Medicare rebates are available for treatment from allied health professionals who are assisting in managing the illness. Clients have complex care needs if they need ongoing care from a multidisciplinary team consisting of their GP and at least two other health care providers, one of which may be a speech pathologist.

 

The GP will prepare a GP Management Plan and Team Care Arrangements and make the referral to the speech pathologist. The GP nominates the number of sessions up to a maximum of 5 per calendar year. The five sessions are per client, not five sessions per allied health professional, and may be with a number of allied health professionals (e.g., three with a speech pathologist and two with an occupational therapist). If all sessions are not used during the calendar year in which the client was referred, the unused sessions can be used in the next calendar year. However, those sessions will be counted as part of the five sessions with allied health professionals available to the client during that calendar year. Clients continue to be eligible for rebates for speech pathology while they are being managed under a CDM plan as long as the need for eligible services continues to be recommended by their GP in their plan. For more information regarding the Medicare Benefits Scheme - Chronic Disease Management visit the website

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Private Health Insurance

Depending on your policy and extras cover, you may be eligible to claim Speech Pathology services through your private health insurance. Please check with your Private Health fund to see if your specific level of cover entitles you to a rebate.