Policies

Privacy & Confidentiality

This policy is designed to protect your privacy as a client in compliance with privacy legislation.

The policy is to inform you of:

the kinds of personal information that is collected and held;
how we collect and hold personal information;
the purposes for which we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information;
how you may access the clients’ personal information and seek the correction of that information;
how you may complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles and how we will deal with such a complaint.

What kinds of personal information do we collect?

The type of information we may collect and hold includes personal information about:

The clients’ name, address, date of birth, email and contact details;
Medicare number;
The clients’ health information and other sensitive & personal information is collected as part of providing psychological service;
Insurance claim information, if relevant.
Other medical reports and forms if relevant.

How do we collect and hold personal information?

We will generally collect personal information:

from the client directly when the client provides their details to us;
from a person responsible for the client;
from third parties where the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 and the Privacy Act 1988 or other law allows it.

Where do we hold the clients’ personal information?

Any physical files are locked and electronic data is kept secure via an industry compliant software package. Once treatment has been finalised data may be transferred to a storage device that is not connected to the internet and is locked and secured to comply with the requirements of keep data for 7 years.

Why do we collect, hold, use and disclose personal information?

In general, we may collect, hold, use and disclose the clients’ personal information for the following purposes:

The clients’ personal information is gathered and used for the purpose of providing psychological services, which includes assessing, diagnosing and treating the client’s presenting issue. The 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 communicate with the client
to comply with our legal obligations
to help us manage our accounts and administrative services.

Consequences of not providing personal information

If a client does not wish for their personal information to be collected in a way anticipated by this Privacy Policy, Oscar Williams may not be in a position to provide the person with a psychological service.

How can you access your personal information?

Subject to the exceptions set out in the Health Records (Privacy and Access) Act 1997 and the Privacy Act 1988, a client may seek access to and correction of the personal information which we hold. The psychologist may discuss the contents, subject to the exceptions of the aforementioned Acts. If satisfied that personal information is inaccurate, out of date or incomplete, reasonable steps will be taken in the circumstances to ensure that this information is corrected. An appointment will need to be made and fees charged (if necessary) for clarification purposes.

Psychologists also have the right to refuse access to clinical records if they believe the request is malicious and vexatious, or if it could result in serious harm to the patient.

Disclosure of personal information

A clients’ personal information will remain confidential except when:

It is subpoenaed by a court; or
Failure to disclose the information would in the reasonable belief of Oscar Williams, place a client or another person at serious risk to life, health or safety; or
The client’s prior approval has been obtained to:
1. provide a written report to another professional or agency, e.g., a GP, Return to Work insurer or a lawyer; or
2. discuss the material with another person, e.g. a parent, employer or health provider; or
3. disclose the information in another way; or
you would reasonably expect the clients’ information to be disclosed to another professional or agency (e.g. the clients’ GP or an insurer such as Return to Work) and disclosure of the clients’ personal information to that third party is for a purpose which is directly related to the primary purpose for which the clients’ personal information was collected; or
disclosure is otherwise required or authorised by law.

A client’s personal information is not disclosed to overseas recipients, unless the client consents or such disclosure is otherwise required by law. Clients’ personal information will not be used, sold, rented or disclosed for any other purpose.

Supervision/Note Taking

Your treating psychologist may discuss your case at clinical supervision with other psychologists or health professionals. All psychologists are legally bound to keep the information confidential.

Your treating psychologist may use a computer program to assist in note-taking for clinical sessions. All programs used at Oscar Williams Psychology are well vetted and only those meeting Privacy and Confidentiality standards in South Australia are used.

How can you make a privacy related complaint?

We will take reasonable steps to protect the security of the clients’ information and comply with our legal obligations. Oakden Medical Centre staff are trained and required to respect the clients’ privacy. We take all reasonable steps to protect information held from misuse and loss and from unauthorised access, modification or disclosure.

If you have any questions about privacy-related issues or wish to complain about a breach of the Australian Privacy Principles or the handling of the clients’ personal information by us, please contact us on admin@oakdenmc.com.au

You may lodge a complaint in writing to the email address above. Any complaint will be investigated and you will be notified of the making of a decision in relation to the clients’ complaint as soon as is practicable after it has been made, usually within 30 days.

Concerns

Upon request you can obtain a copy of the Australian Privacy Principles, which describe the clients’ rights and how the clients’ personal information should be handled.

Ultimately, if you wish to lodge a formal complaint about the use of, disclosure of, or access to, the clients’ personal information, you may do so with the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner by phone on 1300 363 992, online at http://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/making-a-privacy-complaint or by post to:
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner, GPO Box 5218, Sydney, NSW 2001.

Privacy & Confidentiality

Fees & Rebates

Fees

A regular 50-minute session is $220.00.

With a Mental Health Treatment Plan you will receive a $98.95 Medicare rebate.

NDIS sessions are based on the NDIS Support Catalogue fee schedule (this is based on the State/Territory that someone resides in).

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.

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.

Fees & Rebates

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.