Can a psychologist bulk bill?

[WokingOnIt]

So.. the title is my questions. I know private psychologists don't usually bulk bill, but can they? Is it possible? On an ongoing basis, I mean. If my psychologist is not billing me out of pocket, is it *possible* (legal/allowed) that he is bulk billing me so I don't have to pay out of pocket? And if so, he'd be accepting a reduced fee from Medicare, right? If I am not paying a gap?

I know I could just ask him. But I won't. In the meantime it is stressing me out a bit as I don't really understand what's happening and how it's possible that he's not charging me personally. The only thing I can think of is bulk billing but I don't know if psychologists can do that.

[WokingOnIt]

Hi Geoff, thank you for your response.

In the scenario you describe, they can still only bulk bill for a maximum of ten sessions per year, right? Because Medicare won't pay them anything for sessions on top of that?

[WokingOnIt]

Hi Aspie Bob,

Thank you for sharing. I have a feeling that this is what my psychologist is doing (seeing me for free while we wait for my NDIS plan/funding to come through, with the idea that he will then be paid adequately after that) but we have never actually spoken about it (I have felt far too awkward to bring it up), so I don't really know what is going on. I will have the conversation with him about it at the next session.

I am finding it difficult to be okay with the idea of someone helping me and not getting paid for it. I feel guilty and like I am taking advantage.

[Aunt Jobiska]

Hi - In addition to a MHCP, there is something called something like - an enhanced care plan - for people with multiple chronic illnesses (ie depression, arthritis, diabetes) - and it is possible to get additional psychology appointments paid for through Medicare through that process, I think up to another 6?

Also, for certain conditions - specifically types of eating disorders - Medicare pay for a significantly increased number of sessions by a psychologist (far more than 10).

But as people have said, usually once the 10 session ceiling of a MHCP has been reached, a psychologist can't bulk bill anyone anymore, because there is no one to bill. They can just start seeing people for free.

[WokingOnIt]

Thank you so much for your replies, everyone. I did end up talking to my psychologist at my last appointment, and he clarified that yes, he has just been seeing me for free, after the initial bulk billing of the MHCP sessions.

Now I have NDIS funding which will cover future sessions for the next year, but I am incredibly grateful to him for allowing me to continue with sessions in the meantime.