Better Access · MBS 2025-26 schedule
Medicare psychology rebate calculator
Work out what Medicare pays back and what you pay out-of-pocket for a course of psychology under the Better Access initiative. Real 2025-26 MBS rebate amounts. Calculator runs client-side, no data leaves your browser.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Better Access lets you claim 10 individual psychology sessions per calendar year on Medicare, once your GP writes a Mental Health Care Plan (item 2715).
- ✓Clinical psychologist rebate is $141.85/session (item 80010). Registered psychologist rebate is $96.65/session (item 80110). Telehealth equivalents pay the same rebates.
- ✓Eating Disorder Plans (item 90250) provide a separate, larger entitlement: up to 40 psychology + 20 dietetic sessions per 12-month period.
- ✓Once your family hits the EMSN threshold ($2,615.50 general, $811.80 concessional / FTB-A) for out-of-pocket Medicare costs in a calendar year, Medicare pays 80% of further out-of-pocket fees on top of the standard rebate.
- ✓Bulk-billed psychology means $0 out-of-pocket but waitlists are typically 6–16 weeks. Most private practices charge a gap of $120–$200 per session against the standard rebate.
In plain English
Medicare doesn’t pay your psychologist directly. You pay the practice’s full fee on the day, then Medicare rebates a fixed amount back to your bank account, usually within 24 hours. The “gap” is your out-of-pocket cost: fee minus rebate. This calculator shows annual totals across the 10-session Better Access cap.
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MBS items at a glance
Better Access item numbers and rebates
| MBS item | Provider | Service | Rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2715 | GP | Mental Health Care Plan (preparing) – in surgery | $95.50 |
| 2712 | GP | MHCP review consultation | $76.95 |
| 80010 | Clinical psychologist | 50+ minute therapy session, in-person | $141.85 |
| 80001 | Clinical psychologist | 50+ minute therapy session, videoconference | $141.85 |
| 80110 | Registered psychologist | 50+ minute therapy session, in-person | $96.65 |
| 80111 | Registered psychologist | 50+ minute therapy session, videoconference | $96.65 |
| 80125 | Mental health OT | 50+ minute therapy session | $85.20 |
| 80155 | Mental health social worker | 50+ minute therapy session | $85.20 |
| 90250 | GP / psychiatrist / paediatrician | Eating Disorder Plan (preparing) – unlocks 40 psych + 20 dietetic sessions | $141.85 |
Source: mbsonline.gov.au. Item descriptors and rebate amounts current to the 2025-26 MBS schedule. Always confirm the rebate for your specific item with the practice; group items and shorter consult items pay different amounts.
Process
How to access the rebate
- Book a long appointment with your GP and tell reception it’s for a Mental Health Care Plan.
- The GP completes the MHCP assessment and refers you to a specific psychologist (or class of psychologist).
- Book the psychologist and bring the MHCP / referral to the first appointment.
- Pay the practice’s full fee on the day. Medicare rebates the item amount within 24–48 hours.
- After session 6, return to your GP for an MHCP review (item 2712) before claiming sessions 7–10.
EMSN explained
The safety net most people miss
The Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) is automatic once you’re registered as a family with Services Australia. Once your family’s annual out-of-pocket Medicare costs hit the threshold, Medicare pays 80% of further gap fees (up to a per-service cap). 2026 thresholds:
- $811.80 for concessional / FTB-A families.
- $2,615.50 for everyone else.
Register your family at servicesaustralia.gov.au/extended-medicare-safety-net. Psychology gaps count; bulk-billed services don’t.
In crisis right now
If you’re thinking about harming yourself or feel unable to keep yourself safe, call Lifeline 13 11 14 (24/7), Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636, or 13YARN 13 92 76 (First Nations support). For life-threatening emergencies, call 000 or attend a hospital emergency department.
Common questions
Medicare rebates – common questions
How many Medicare-rebated psychology sessions can I claim a year?
Ten individual sessions per calendar year under the Better Access initiative, once you hold a current Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP. The 10-session cap reverted from the temporary 20-session COVID extension on 1 January 2023; the 10-session limit is the current settled position. After the first 6 sessions you must return to your GP for a review before the remaining 4 sessions can be claimed.
What is the Medicare rebate per session in 2025-26?
Clinical psychologist (MBS item 80010 / 80000 series, 50+ minute consult): $141.85 rebate. Registered (general) psychologist (MBS item 80110 / 80105 series, 50+ minute consult): $96.65 rebate. Accredited mental health social worker (item 80155): $85.20. Accredited mental health occupational therapist (item 80125): $85.20. Telehealth equivalents pay the same rebate. The rebate is what Medicare pays back; the gap is the difference between your psychologist’s billed fee and the rebate.
Do I need to see a GP first?
Yes. The Medicare rebate is only available with a current Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) written by a GP, or with a referral from a psychiatrist or paediatrician. The GP visit to prepare the MHCP is itself a Medicare item (item 2715 in surgery, item 2717 home / hospital, with longer 2700 / 2701 variants for complex cases). Most bulk-billing GPs charge no gap for the MHCP visit; non-bulk-billing GPs typically charge $80–$130 with a Medicare rebate of around $95.50 against item 2715.
What about the Extended Medicare Safety Net?
After your family hits the Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) threshold for out-of-pocket Medicare costs in a calendar year, Medicare pays 80% of any further out-of-pocket fees for out-of-hospital services (including psychology gaps), up to a per-service EMSN cap. The general threshold in 2026 is $2,615.50; the concessional / Family Tax Benefit Part A threshold is $811.80. Register your family at Services Australia. Psychology gaps count toward the threshold; bulk-billed services do not.
Can I get more than 10 sessions in a year?
Eating Disorder Plans (item 90250 written by a GP or psychiatrist) provide up to 40 psychology sessions plus 20 dietetic sessions per 12-month period for eligible patients with an active eating disorder diagnosis. Pregnancy-related mental-health and other specific items also exist. Outside these specific pathways, the Better Access cap is 10 sessions per calendar year; private health “extras” or paying full fee are the options once you exhaust the cap.
Is telehealth the same rebate as in-person?
Yes. Better Access telehealth psychology was made a permanent feature of the MBS in 2022. Item 80001 (clinical psych telehealth) pays the same $141.85 rebate as item 80010 in-person; item 80111 (registered psych telehealth) pays the same $96.65 as the in-person equivalent. Phone-only sessions are now restricted to specific circumstances (rural, telehealth-impossible) and pay a lower rebate; the standard is videoconference.
How does bulk-billing work for psychology?
A psychologist who bulk-bills accepts the Medicare rebate as full payment, you pay $0 out-of-pocket. Bulk-billing is at the practitioner’s discretion; community mental health services, headspace centres (12–25), and some low-fee private practices bulk-bill. Wait times are typically longer (6–16 weeks). Look for the term “bulk-bill” on the provider’s fee schedule or ask at booking.
What does the gap fee usually look like?
For a clinical psychologist charging the typical Australian Psychological Society recommended fee of around $311 (2025-26 schedule) and rebating $141.85, the gap is roughly $169 per session. For a registered psychologist charging around $260 against a $96.65 rebate, the gap is around $163. Real-world fees vary from $180 (low-cost practices) to $330+ (specialist practitioners). Always confirm the gap with the practice before booking; some publish a sliding scale.
General information only. This is general information about Medicare rebates, not clinical advice. Item descriptors and rebate amounts are drawn from the published MBS schedule but can change. Speak with an AHPRA-registered psychologist for advice on your specific situation, and confirm current rebate amounts with your treating practitioner or at mbsonline.gov.au before any financial decision.