Policies & Info
Psychological Services
Psychological Service
As part of providing a psychological service to you, the psychologist needs to collect and record personal information from you that is relevant to your situation, such as your name, contact information, medical history, and other relevant information as part of providing psychological services to you. This collection of personal information will be a necessary part of the psychological assessment and treatment that is conducted.
Purpose of Collecting and Holding Information
Your personal information is gathered as part of your assessment and treatment, is kept securely and, in the interests of your privacy, used only by your psychologist and the authorised personnel of the practice (as necessary). Your personal information is retained in order to document what happens during sessions and enables the psychologist to provide a relevant and informed psychological service to you. A more detailed description is provided in the practice’s “Privacy Policy For Management Of Personal Information”, which can be obtained by contacting your psychologist. The Privacy Policy contains information about how to access and seek correction of your personal information, and how to lodge a complaint about our management of your personal information.
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Access to Client Information
At any stage, you may access the material recorded in your file, subject to exceptions as stated in the Privacy Amendment Act 2000 (National Privacy Principal 6). This means that your request must be serious in nature, i.e. “the request must not be frivolous or vexatious”. Any request to access your information must be lodged with your psychologist. Your request will then be responded to within 7 days and an appointment made for clarification purposes.
Confidentiality/Disclosure of Personal Information
All personal information gathered by the psychologist during the provision of the psychological service will remain confidential except when:
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It is subpoenaed by a court, or disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law; or
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Failure to disclose the information would, in the reasonable belief of Oscar Williams, place you or another person at serious risk to life, health, or safety; or
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Your prior approval has been obtained to –
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provide a written report to another professional or agency. e.g., a GP or a lawyer; or
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discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer, health provider, or third-party funder; or
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disclose the information in another way; or
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disclose to another professional or agency (e.g. your GP) and disclosure of your personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which your personal information was collected.
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Consent to Exchange Information
If you are utilising a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), it will be a requirement for Oscar Williams to provide your GP with information regarding treatment and any updates. This is a requirement of a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
Privacy & Confidentiality
Fees & Rebates
Fees
A regular 50-minute session is $195.00.
With a Mental Health Treatment Plan you will receive a $96.65 Medicare rebate.
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NDIS sessions are based on the NDIS Support Catalogue fee schedule (this is based on the State/Territory that someone resides in).
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WorkCover (Return to Work) sessions are based on the Return to Work SA psychology fee schedule and policy (and are covered by the employer to insurer).
Please be aware that fees have to be paid in full prior to the rebate being processed. The Medicare system does not allow for just the gap to be paid. Credit card payments may attract surcharges.
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For fees regarding court reports, please contact the clinic.
Medicare Rebates
Consultations with a psychologist attract a Medicare rebate if your GP or your psychiatrist has completed a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). Please be aware that not all health conditions are eligible for a MHTP, and this should be discussed with your GP/Psychiatrist. The gap fee is the amount you pay after receiving a Medicare rebate.
Your fee is to be "paid in full" at the end of your appointment. Payment can be made by credit card, bank transfer or eftpos. Your rebate from Medicare is then credited within 24 hours into your nominated bank account provided to Medicare.
All Medicare card holders are entitled to benefit from the Medicare Safety Net, which minimises the total expenses in any one year from gap fees for all medical and allied health services including GPs, specialists, blood tests, and X-rays. The Safety Net will reimburse 80% of all out-of-pocket costs in any one year after the total reaches $656 per annum for concession card holders and $2056 per annum for other Medicare Card Holders. All Medicare card holders need to register; Safety Net registration forms are available from any Medicare Office or online.
Private Health Insurance
Alternatively, if you are not eligible for a Medicare rebate (i.e. you do not qualify for a MHTP) you may wish to claim from your private health fund. Please contact your private health fund prior to your appointment to discuss your cover and rebate. You will need to claim the rebate directly from your private health insurer.
Cancellation Policy
We understand that sometimes life happens and appointments need to be cancelled or postponed. Please provide us with a minimum of 24 hours notice of cancellations so that we can offer the appointment to someone else in need of urgent attention. You can do this by email, sending a text or giving us a call.
A late cancellation fee of $100.00 is charged if the appointment is cancelled within that 24 hour period or you did not attend the appointment and no notice was given. Please note: You will not receive a rebate from Medicare for non- attendance or late cancellations.