The short answer is “no”.
While people with mental health issues may also experience relationship problems, under the current Medicare system couples counselling is not eligible for Medicare rebates, even if both partners have an eligible Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP).
Relationship counselling has the couple as the client, whereas individual counselling is focused only on the needs of that individual.
This is not the same as saying that relationship issues can’t be discussed legitimately in the course of individual therapy under a MHTP. But Medicare is clear that any rebatable psychological service provided to an individual must be solely focused on their “eligible” mental health concerns. This refers to mental health issues which are covered under the Better Access program.
Ok so how do you manage things?
In my practice I seek to uphold the highest ethical and legal standards relevant to my profession. I also don’t want clients anticipating a rebate only to have it ultimately rejected by Medicare. To this end, I have sought clarification from professional representative associations on whether individual sessions conducted in the course of couples therapy may be eligible for a rebate under a MHTP. The clearest information I have available is that you risk having your claim rejected if you seek a rebate for individual sessions which are focused on the couple’s functioning. GPs have also reportedly been advised by Medicare not to provide a MHTP to clients for the purposes of accessing rebates for relationship counselling. But because it is slightly ambiguous, you may find individual practitioners who interpret the rules differently.
Compliance with Medicare rules is monitored through the mandatory reporting process from psychologists to the referring practitioner (usually your GP) and random audits conducted by Medicare.
Your private insurer may offer rebates for Family and Couples Counselling. Contact your insurer directly to enquire and also check whether there is a specified session duration for the service to be eligible.
Can we do couples counselling by each of us attending individual sessions only (so we can claim a Medicare rebate)?
Medicare supports eligible services for defined psychological concerns. Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) indicates that the focus of the psychological treatment for individual clients must be the presenting mental health disorder.
Under the current system, relationship problems are not included in the list of psychological issues addressed by the Medicare rebate.
Various national representative associations as advocates of community mental health access have sought to lobby the government for changes in Medicare to support relationship counselling services.
The latest advice provided to Registered Psychologists is that Medicare has confirmed that the situation where both members of the couple have Mental Health Treatment Plans does not facilitate the delivery of relationship counselling.
Can we do couples counselling by each of us attending individual sessions only (so we can claim a Medicare rebate)?
Medicare supports eligible services for defined psychological concerns. Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) indicates that the focus of the psychological treatment for individual clients must be the presenting mental health disorder.
Under the current system, relationship problems are not included in the list of psychological issues addressed by the Medicare rebate.
Various national representative associations as advocates of community mental health access have sought to lobby the government for changes in Medicare to support relationship counselling services.
The latest advice provided to Registered Psychologists is that Medicare has confirmed that the situation where both members of the couple have Mental Health Treatment Plans does not facilitate the delivery of relationship counselling.