Medicare rebates for psychology (2026)
Everything about the Better Access Medicare rebate for psychology in 2026: current rebate amounts by practitioner type, how a Mental Health Treatment Plan works, the ten-session limit, telehealth items and what is not covered.
In brief. With a Mental Health Treatment Plan from your GP you can claim a Medicare rebate for up to ten individual psychology sessions a calendar year: $149.05 with a clinical psychologist, $101.55 with a registered psychologist, $89.50 with a mental health social worker or occupational therapist (rates from 1 July 2026). Telehealth by video attracts the same rebate. Counsellors, coaches, assessments and sessions beyond ten are not covered.
How Better Access works
- See your GP. The GP assesses you and prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MBS item 2715 for 20 to 39 minutes, 2717 for 40 minutes or more). Book a long appointment.
- Get the referral. The plan includes a referral to a psychologist, mental health social worker or occupational therapist. It can name a practitioner or be open.
- Attend up to six sessions. The initial referral covers six.
- Review. Your GP reviews the plan (item 2712) and can refer for four more, to a maximum of ten per calendar year.
- Claim. Most practices claim on the spot: you pay the fee and Medicare pays the rebate into your account within a day or two, or the practice bulk-bills and you pay only the gap or nothing.
Rebate amounts from 1 July 2026
| Practitioner | In rooms | Video telehealth | Phone | Rebate (85% of schedule fee) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinical psychologist, 50+ min | 80010 | 91167 | 91182 | $149.05 |
| Registered psychologist, 50+ min | 80110 | 91166 | 91181 | $101.55 |
| Mental health social worker, 50+ min | 80135 | video item | phone item | $89.50 |
| Occupational therapist (mental health), 50+ min | 80160 | video item | phone item | $89.50 |
Shorter sessions (20 to 50 minutes) have lower-rebate items. Schedule fees and rebates are indexed each 1 July; the figures above are from MBS Online as at September 2026.
Two questions to start
Take the full self-testWHO adult ADHD screener. Scored on your device. A screen is not a diagnosis.
The ten-session rule
Ten individual sessions per calendar year, resetting on 1 January regardless of when you started. The temporary increase to twenty during the pandemic ended in 2022. Group sessions have a separate allowance of ten. If you need more than ten individual sessions, options are full fee, private health extras, an Employee Assistance Program, or a practitioner on a lower fee.
What is not covered
- Counsellors, psychotherapists and ADHD coaches, regardless of qualifications.
- ADHD and autism diagnostic assessments as a whole (some individual consultation items may be rebated; the bulk is private).
- Couples and relationship counselling.
- Anything delivered inside a weekly plan or bundle rather than as an itemised session.
- Reports and letters.
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are rebated under different items and do not use the ten-session cap. An initial assessment of 45 minutes or more with a GP referral attracts $268.90 (item 296), or $467.45 for a comprehensive assessment and management plan (item 291, once per 12 months). Reviews of 30 to 45 minutes return $137.45. Private psychiatrists commonly charge $600 to $1,200 for an initial consultation, so gaps are large.
Private health and Medicare together
You cannot claim both for the same session. Use Medicare for the ten plan sessions and extras cover for any beyond that, if your policy includes psychology.
What Inner Help does
Verified Inner Help practitioners publish their fee and the amount you pay after the rebate, and lodge the claim for you. The finder filters for Medicare, bulk billing and concession.
Get matched to a therapist.
A short questionnaire, then a practitioner who understands neurodivergence. Per session with your rebate lodged, or a weekly plan.
Frequently asked questions
Does the plan expire?
A referral is valid until its sessions are used, not for a fixed period, but the ten-session count resets each calendar year and many GPs re-issue plans annually.
Can I change psychologist mid-plan?
Yes. Remaining sessions transfer; ask your GP for a re-referral naming the new practitioner or use an open referral.
Is telehealth rebated the same as in person?
Yes for video. Phone consultations have their own items and some restrictions.
What is the Medicare Safety Net?
Once your out-of-pocket costs for out-of-hospital Medicare services pass an annual threshold, Medicare pays a higher share of subsequent fees. Psychology gaps count towards it.
Sources and review
Last updated 2026-09-14.