The MBS Review Mental Health Reference Group membership details have been published on the Department of Health web site. The large majority of psychologists are not represented on the committee. The author of the controversial Australian Clinical Psychology Associations MBS Review submission is on the committee.
Free student membership is currently being offered by the Australian Psychological Society, a RAPS supporter is concerned about this development. The APS replies to a RAPS supporter’s email about guidelines for diagnosis of Autism under the NDIS.
Judy Hyde’s submission to the Federal Department of Industry states that many clinical psychologists don’t have qualifications in clinical psychology. The ACPA September 2017 submission to the MBS Review Task-force makes the usual denigrating claims about all psychologists without clinical endorsement that we have come to expect from the ACPA. The Australian Psychological Society maintains their silence about the claims made by the ACPA.
The Mental Health Services Reference Group is in the final stages of establishment and will have their first meeting in the coming month. Submissions about the mental health Medicare items for psychologists need to be sent ASAP to ensure they are considered by the reference group.
A new Government document reveals the APS was consulted in reaching the determination that diagnoses of mental health conditions for DSP purposes must be provided by a psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
Several attendees of the inaugural APS Advisory Council meeting have relayed that generalists received little focus in discussions compared to APS Colleges.
