Williamstown Paediatrics is a private, fee for service clinic. Accounts are payable on the day of your consultation by cash, EFTPOS, mastercard or visa. Medicare rebates will apply for consultations with our paediatrician, if your child has a valid referral.
Families or individuals who have reached the Medicare Safety Net threshold may be eligible for an additional benefit from Medicare.
Medicare rebates are available for up to 10 individual and 10 group allied mental health services per calendar year to patients with an assessed mental disorder who are referred by:
A GP managing the patient under a GP Mental Health Plan, or
A psychiatrist or paediatrician
Allied mental health services under this initiative include psychological assessment and therapy services provided by clinical psychologists, eligible occupational therapists and psychologists.
Health professionals determine their own fees for the service they provide, and charges in excess of the Medicare rebate are the responsibility of the patient.
GPs may suggest a GPMP and TCA to help plan and coordinate care for children with complex medical or developmental needs.
If your child has a GPMP and TCA they may be eligible to claim through Medicare for up to 5 allied health visits (eg speech pathology, dietician, physio, Occupational Therapy, Psychology) per calendar year.
There are Medicare rebates for the assessment and treatment of autism under the age of 13.To be eligible for these rebates, a GP refers a child with possible ASD for assessment by a paediatrician or psychiatrist.The paediatrician or psychiatrist may refer to allied health professionals such as a Speech Pathologist, Psychologist or Occupational therapist to assist in diagnosis. Medicare provides rebates for up to 4 diagnostic assesment visits per child. The paediatrician will then see your child again to develop a treatment and management plan which is also rebated through Medicare (provided it is completed before your child turns 13).
After the development of the management plan, your paediatrician or psychiatrist may refer you for allied health services. Medicare will rebate up to 20 allied health services per child for the treatment of Autism Spectrum Disorder. These treatment services must occur before your child turns 15.
Children diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder under the age of 6, are eligible for early intervention funding. This consists of a maximun of $12,000 to spend on early intervention services before your child’s 7th birthday. You can only use the funding with speech pathologists, occupational therapists and psychologists who have been approved by FaHCSIA.
Your paediatrician can provide you with a letter of diagnosis so that you can make contact with amaze www.amaze.org.au who will assign you an Autism Advisor to guide you through the process.
The Better Start Program has been introduced for children with other disabilities such as deafness, blindness, Cerebral Palsy, Down’s Syndrome and Fragile X Syndrome. The model is very similar to the HCWA and FaHCSIA funding.
If you would like any further information about fees or any other aspect of the clinic, please contact us through email, at paed.rijumittal@gmail.com.