Category: Blog

The MBS Review has delivered an update (September 2019) on the progress of the Medicare Benefits Schedule Review Taskforce. We have provided the full update below, but particularly wish to draw our readers’ attention to the status of the Taskforce’s response to the draft reports from the Mental Health and Allied Health Reference groups. Written correspondence on the work of the MHRG may be sent via email MBSReviews@health.gov.au attention…

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“…what I am absolutely committing to is if the Medicare Taskforce, the finest body of professionals in the country, makes these recommendations, we will implement those recommendations.” (Hon Greg Hunt, 2nd May 2019) On 2nd May 2019 at the National Press Club Debate, the Hon Greg Hunt communicated his unequivocal commitment to implementing the recommendations of the Medicare Taskforce Review on Mental Health. Below is a dot point summary…

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We have been told numerous times by APS representatives that the Hon Greg Hunt MP, Minister for Health, does not want psychologists to contact him. After the most recent such public statement in a regional meeting, one of our psychologist peers took action and followed this up directly with Greg Hunt. Ironically, this was around the same time that other psychologist peers had met with Greg Hunt and his…

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In their recent policy document, The Future of Psychology in Australia, the Australian Psychological Society (APS), cited National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and other clinical guidelines as evidence for their recommendations. The cornerstone of the APS policy document was the recommendation that psychologists without an Area of Practice Endorsement (AOPE) should not be permitted to work with individuals diagnosed with eating disorders, psychotic disorders, conduct disorder,…

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2006 Medicare rebates for psychology will be great for the profession. All Australians will be able to access psychology treatment from qualified and registered psychologists. Sounded great at the start. Thirteen years ago, in 2006. An initiative that would enable psychologists to offer treatment subsidised by Medicare. Which it did. With problems. With changes and permanent damage to the psychology profession. Better Access led to services delivered by clinical…

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Hello colleagues. If you’re anything like me, you tend to leave paying for things until the last moment any way. In the case of renewing your APS membership you may also be feeling grave doubts and conflict. Listen to your inner voice. Isn’t that what we tell clients? If you have not renewed, then please don’t renew. The APS is now a dysfunctional society serving the needs of a…

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Australian psychologists must understand some very important points about the APS White Paper, especially in relation to the extra sessions that are proposed. They come at considerable long term cost. Essentially, what we will end up with is a two-tiered system but with much more division between generalist psychologists and endorsed psychologists than the existing system. It is also very unclear whether the inclusion of endorsements will make much…

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The APS ‘White Paper’ cites 3 references in support of its contention that there is an evidence base to the idea that only clinical psychologists or some AoPE are appropriate to treat High Intensity Disorders. In some ways this is an improvement on the ‘green paper’ – we have lost Pirkis et al. (2011) – parting is such sweet sorrow. In other ways, it’s even worse. None of the…

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White Paper Recommendation 17 Scheduled Fees: Extend the higher rebate to all endorsed psychologists. Since at least 2003, past and present industry power brokers have hawked their perspective of the psychology profession to Government. Uniformly, they have denigrated psychologists who do not hold endorsement in clinical psychology as being unfit to provide services in the public healthcare system. The introduction of the two-tier structure to psychological services under the…

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As our once beloved Australian Psychological Society releases its Medicare manifesto, its self-interest and callous disregard for the needs of our communities validates our decade of distress and anger. It also strengthens our determination to awaken the community and the profession to the malignant values it now openly embraces. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a nicely designed document. Nice cover. Great font. Front picture could have been less ambiguous….

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