Dr Thamizan Tucker - Information For Clients.
Private Practice 2023
Under the Medicare scheme, if you have a mental health care plan from your GP you are eligible for 6 individual psychology sessions. After a review by your referring GP, you may be eligible for a further 4 sessions.
A standard session runs for 50 minutes. This allows some time for notes to be written in your file before the next session.
Fees
My fee for a Medicare or private session is $210. The APS (Australian Psychological Society) recommended fee for a standard 46-60 minute psychology session is $280.
There are three payment options:
Cash
Direct deposit prior to your session. If using this method of payment, please send proof of payment via text. Rebates will not be processed until proof of payment has been received. Please use the following details; BSB: 013 322; Account number: 476299765; and use your name as the reference.
Electronic payment processing. Your credit card details may be used to process payments at the end of each session. Halaxy software (which I already use to process your Medicare rebate) now provides this option. Electronic payments processing is provided by Braintree in Australia, which is a subsidiary of PayPal and is protected by bank-grade encryption. As a security measure, card details are stored by Halaxy’s partners and not stored by Halaxy directly, so payment data is not stored with patient records and Halaxy cannot retrieve card details. Visa, Mastercard and American Express are all accepted. Transaction costs are comparable to bank EFTPOS terminal and transaction charges and will be passed on to clients. The amount payable using this electronic payment processing method is between $3.40 and $4.80 per transaction (for a $210 payment).
Rebates
The current Medicare rebate for clinical psychology is $131.65 (out-of-pocket expense of $78.35). This rebate will increase once you hit the Medicare safety net for the year.
If you have used your Medicare funding for the year, you may be able to claim a rebate using private health extras cover.
Session times
After an initial assessment period, it is preferable that you attend at the same time each week (or fortnight). I will provide a regular appointment time as soon as one becomes available. Cancellations should only be made in the case of emergency or illness. At least four weeks’ notice should be given for holiday breaks. There are no sessions on public holidays.
Telehealth sessions may be provided where appropriate and will be charged at the same rate as face-to-face sessions. The Coviu platform is used to provide a secure and confidential service.
The full fee will be charged for any cancellations made within 24 hours of the appointment time. Medicare will not pay you a rebate for a session you do not attend. This will be an out-of-pocket expense to be paid before your next session.
If you request a letter regarding your treatment, the following fee structure will apply. A letter of up to a page will incur a fee of $75. Private psychological reports will incur a fee of $150 per page plus GST.
If you need to reschedule or cancel an appointment, please call or text my mobile phone and leave a message. Your call or text will be returned as soon as possible to reschedule the appointment. My phone is switched off when I am not working (ie -weeknights and weekends) so please direct any more urgent matters to your GP or local hospital.
If you have any concerns or questions regarding any of the above information, please do not hesitate to discuss this with me.
Consent for treatment
Confidentiality has been discussed with me and I understand that Dr Thamizan Tucker may contact my next-of-kin or appropriate medical or emergency service if it is deemed necessary to protect my safety or the safety of others. I also understand that my file may be subpoenaed by a court of law.
I _____________________________ agree that I have read the above information and consent
to treatment by Dr Thamizan Tucker under this practice policy.
Date: ____________________________
Signed: _____________________________________
Name of parent (if under 18) _______________________ Signature _______________________