MHCP

....and just to further confuse you @CheerBear go back to the APS site https://www.psychology.org.au/medicare/faqs/#s4

- down to the heading GP Mental Health Treatment Plans - it includes both 'calendar' year and '12 month' period explanations.

I get it - and I cannot ever remember a time that I have got something you haven't - so sorry CB - has kinda made my day at your expense (is that too disrespectful and offensive @Phoenix_Rising would be proud of me lol)

btw @CheerBear I believe by providing only SOME of the information about what can be accessed is indeed a 'lie of omission' and is DEFINITELY misleading those who genuinely require these services.

Where is the Equity here?

And if we are getting confused then how is someone that cannot access a conversation like this one meant to go?

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@Zoe7 wrote:

@Phoenix_Rising @CheerBear just to add to the confusion more - in regards to billing and codes through medicare from the GP - here is how it works -

• Medicare code 2717 used for initial MHCP (can only be billed every 12 months to medicare)
• 2717 (review of plan) can be done after I month.
• This provides an initial 6 sessions under the plan + upon review - an additional 4 sessions (total 10 sessions on a 2717)
• If the patient/client has used all 10 sessions in a calendar year but not due for another 2717 MHCP until a 12 month period is up – then GP can do a 2712 – which is a further review AND referral for another 6 sessions. The 2712 can then be used again after these 6 session (but only after a month) for another 4 sessions.
• This means that in a 12 month period a patient/client can have 10 medicare rebated sessions from the initial MHCP AND additional 10 sessions on a review (total – 20 sessions in a 12 month period)

If neither of these codes (2717- has to be done first - then 2712) are used by the GP then medicare will not rebate ANYTHING to the patient/client for ANY sessions with a psychologist as there will be no record of that person having done a MHCP and are therefore not eligible to be rebated for psychologist services.

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Hi @Zoe7 and @CheerBear,

It's good to see your brains are still melting out of your ears. Do you reckon @Former-Member @NikNik @Former-Member or someone is going to help us unmuddle the muddle, or are they laughing at the sight of our brains melting?

Um...yeah, to me there is nothing new in what you've said here @Zoe7.

In October 2015, I started seeing therapist-take-one. I had 10 medicare-rebated sessions with her between October and December 2015. In January 2016 my GP did another MHCP for me and I had a further 10 medicare-rebated sessions with therapist-take-one. Thus I had 2 MHCPs created and 20 funded sessions between October 2015 and May 2016 (i.e. within a 12 month period and across two calander years). This is an example of how both the "calander year" and the "12 month period" both come into the equation. This is simply a product of the timing of when I started seeing therapist-take-one - i.e. towards the end of one calander year and into the start of the next calander year.

My brain hurts - does yours?

@Phoenix_Rising It is highly likely that your second MHCP was put in as a 2712 ( review code) as if it was put in as a 2717 then medicare would not have accepted it (unless they stuffed up lol) Either way you still got the 20 sessions that could be rebated through medicare for a MHCP

My brain did hurt - but this has woken it up a bit lol

Snowflake banana brain @CheerBear I'm ROFL - so you and my psychiatrist have both made me laugh today - and I'm sure little turtle is probably going to say something that will make me giggle too very soon @Phoenix_Rising (law of averages here says it will happen at some stage lol)

Hey @CheerBear, if I called you a snowflakey banana head, would that be offensive and disrespectful? Ooooh, do you reckon I could use that term on the assignments I'm marking? I can see that you have made a good attempt at this response. Unfortunately, it appears that you are a snowflakey banana head.

@Zoe7 yep I got 20 medicare funded sessions and 2 MHCPs done across 2 calander years and within a 12 month period. And???? This fits perfectly with what my original understanding was of the system before we ever started this hellish conversation.

For some reason, this conversation suddenly reminded me of this song: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0U2zJOryHKQ And around and around we go...

ROFL ...

Yep @Phoenix_Rising you've done it - and it only took 7 minutes....

*Zoe needs to change clothes again*