I just want to clarify media reports about changes to Medicare rebates. Two years ago the liberal government introduced an extra 10 Medicare rebated sessions specific to supporting people during COVID-19. This meant that people were eligible for a total of 20 Medicare rebated sessions per calendar year under a Mental Health Care Plan from a GP.

The extra 10 sessions were time limited meaning that it was never the government’s intention to continue the scheme and the date for ending funding is the 31st December 2022. Despite Social Workers, Psychologists and welfare organisations advocating for the extra 10sessions to continue, the current government has decided to fulfill the intention of the scheme.

Media reports using words such as ‘slashing funding’ and ‘psychologist visits’ are incorrect. This is because the scheme isn’t funded beyond the 31st December, and the name of the scheme is ‘better access to mental health care initiative’ which includes Mental health accredited Social Workers, Occupational Therapists along with Psychologists.

Two years of a global pandemic and extreme weather events is enough to trigger mental illness and we don’t need the media sensationalising topics related to mental health care. So maybe the government would consider extra Medicare rebated sessions to help people deal with media sensationalism!