Better Access · MBS telehealth items
Telehealth psychology in Australia: rebates, evidence, when it works
Video psychology is now a permanent feature of Medicare Better Access. Same rebate, same 10-session cap, same provider standards. Here’s what the evidence says, when in-person matters, and how to set up for a useful video session.
★Key takeaways
- ✓Telehealth psychology pays the same Medicare rebate as in-person under Better Access: $141.85 clinical (item 80001), $96.65 registered (item 80111). The 10-session cap is shared across in-person and video.
- ✓A Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) from your GP is still required. Many GPs also offer telehealth MHCP visits, so the entire pathway can be done from home.
- ✓Evidence: telehealth CBT achieves equivalent clinical outcomes to in-person for adult depression, anxiety, PTSD, OCD and insomnia in randomised trials. Therapeutic alliance is comparable.
- ✓In-person is preferred for: complex EMDR / trauma processing with dissociation, active safety risk, eating disorders needing physical monitoring, child therapy under 8, high-conflict couples work.
- ✓Tech minimum: device with camera + mic, stable internet (~5 Mbps), private space, headphones. Most clinics use browser-based platforms (Coviu, Healthdirect, Zoom Healthcare) with no app download required.
MBS telehealth items
What Medicare pays for video sessions
| Item | Provider | Modality | Rebate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 80010 | Clinical psychologist | In-person, 50+ min | $141.85 |
| 80001 | Clinical psychologist | Videoconference, 50+ min | $141.85 |
| 80021 | Clinical psychologist | Phone, 50+ min (restricted eligibility) | $124.05 |
| 80110 | Registered psychologist | In-person, 50+ min | $96.65 |
| 80111 | Registered psychologist | Videoconference, 50+ min | $96.65 |
| 80121 | Registered psychologist | Phone, 50+ min (restricted eligibility) | $84.55 |
Source: mbsonline.gov.au. Phone-only items have eligibility restrictions (rural, no broadband, or technology-impossible cases) and lower rebates – videoconference is the standard. Shorter consults (30–50 min) pay a smaller rebate; group items are separate.
When telehealth works well
Strong evidence base
- CBT for generalised anxiety disorder, social anxiety, panic disorder, health anxiety.
- CBT for mild to moderate depression and persistent depressive disorder.
- Insomnia (CBT-I), with strong online-only protocols available.
- OCD (exposure and response prevention) for mild to moderate severity.
- Stress management, life transitions, grief, work-related issues.
- Adjustment disorders, post-illness adjustment, perinatal anxiety / mild depression.
- Ongoing maintenance therapy after acute symptoms have stabilised.
When in-person is preferable
Specific clinical needs
- Complex trauma / PTSD with dissociation; severe single-incident trauma in early phases.
- Active suicidal ideation or self-harm where physical observation aids safety assessment.
- Eating disorders requiring physical observation, weight monitoring, vital signs.
- Child therapy under 8, where play-based assessment is the clinical method.
- High-conflict couples work, where in-room dynamics management is core to the work.
- Severe acute presentations where face-to-face crisis support pathways are needed.
- People who feel the medium itself is a barrier to disclosure (the clinical relationship matters more than the format).
Practical setup
Getting a useful video session
Device
Laptop or tablet preferred over phone – larger screen = better non-verbal cue reading on both sides. Built-in camera and microphone are fine; external webcam is a small but real upgrade.
Internet
Around 5 Mbps download / 1 Mbps upload is sufficient for stable video. Hardwire ethernet if your Wi-Fi is patchy. Test the connection 15 minutes before the session at fast.com or speedtest.net.
Private space
A room with a door that closes. Agree non-interruption with anyone else in the home. If home isn’t private enough, options include a parked car, library private room, or a coworking phone booth.
Headphones
Wired or wireless. Headphones mean others in the home can’t accidentally overhear the psychologist – privacy goes both ways. Helpful for audio quality too.
Platform
Australian psychologists usually use Coviu, Healthdirect Video Call, Cliniko Telehealth or Zoom Healthcare. Browser-based, encrypted, no app download required. Click the link they send.
Backup plan
If video fails mid-session: the psychologist usually has a backup phone number and will call you. The session can complete by phone, though phone-only Medicare rebates are lower and rules are stricter.
Standards and privacy
What the psychologist is required to do
The Psychology Board of Australia and APS practice standards require any psychologist offering telehealth to meet specific obligations: maintain professional indemnity insurance covering telehealth, verify the patient’s identity at first session, confirm the patient is physically in Australia (Medicare telehealth requires the patient be located in Australia), use an encrypted platform, store records in compliance with state privacy law, conduct a safety assessment that accounts for the remote modality, and have a clear emergency protocol if the patient becomes unsafe during a session.
Ask your psychologist at session 1 what their crisis protocol is if you become unwell during a video session, and what local emergency services they would contact on your behalf if needed.
Source: APS Code of Ethics, APS Ethical Guidelines on the use of telehealth, Psychology Board of Australia Code of Conduct.
In crisis right now
Telehealth psychology is not a crisis service. 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
Telehealth psychology – common questions
Is the Medicare rebate the same for telehealth and in-person psychology?
Yes. Better Access telehealth psychology items pay the same rebate as the in-person equivalents. Item 80001 (clinical psych videoconference) pays the same $141.85 as item 80010 in-person. Item 80111 (registered psych videoconference) pays the same $96.65 as item 80110 in-person. Telehealth was made a permanent feature of the MBS in 2022 after the temporary COVID extension. Phone-only items pay a lower rebate and have restricted eligibility (typically rural or where video is not possible).
Do I still need a GP Mental Health Care Plan for telehealth psychology?
Yes, the gateway is the same. A current Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP, item 2715) is required for any Better Access psychology session, whether in-person or via telehealth. Many GP clinics offer telehealth MHCP visits as well, so the whole pathway can be done from home if needed.
What does the evidence say about telehealth versus in-person psychology?
Multiple randomised controlled trials and meta-analyses (including the 2020 Cochrane review of telephone counselling and several post-COVID systematic reviews) show telehealth-delivered cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) achieves outcomes equivalent to in-person CBT for adult depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD, OCD and insomnia. Therapeutic alliance scores measured by patients are typically equivalent to slightly lower for video vs in-person, but clinical outcomes do not differ in trial populations. Drop-out rates are similar or lower for telehealth, primarily due to reduced logistical barriers.
When is in-person psychology meaningfully better?
A small number of clinical presentations and protocols benefit from in-person delivery: (1) Trauma-focused EMDR – bilateral stimulation logistics are easier in-person, though successful EMDR telehealth protocols exist. (2) Severe or actively suicidal presentation where safety assessment depends on physical observation. (3) Eating disorders requiring physical weight or vital-sign monitoring. (4) Child therapy under 8, where play-based assessment is harder via video. (5) Couples and family work involving high conflict, where the clinician’s in-room management of dynamics matters. APS clinical guidance recommends a hybrid model for most patients, defaulting to video for flexibility and shifting to in-person for specific clinical needs.
What technology do I need for a telehealth psychology session?
A device with a camera, microphone and speakers (laptop, tablet or phone), a private space, a stable internet connection (around 5 Mbps download is sufficient), and headphones for sound privacy. Most Australian psychologists use Coviu, Healthdirect Video Call, Cliniko Telehealth or Zoom Healthcare – browser-based, encrypted, no app download required. The provider sends you a link before the session; you click it at the appointment time.
Is telehealth psychology private if I live with other people?
Privacy is something you organise on your end. Recommendations: take the session from a room with a door, use headphones so others can’t hear the psychologist, position yourself away from doors and windows, agree with housemates or family that the time is uninterruptible. If your home is not private enough, options include a parked car, a private hire space at a coworking venue, or a library private booking room. The psychologist’s end is always private.
Can I do EMDR by telehealth?
Yes. Telehealth EMDR protocols use eye-movement following a moving cue on the screen, audio tones through headphones for bilateral auditory stimulation, or self-administered butterfly hug tapping. Trained EMDR practitioners have adapted the protocol successfully since 2020 and the EMDR International Association recognises virtual EMDR. Many practitioners prefer in-person for severe or dissociation-prone trauma, but routine EMDR for single-incident or post-incident trauma is well-supported via telehealth.
What about telehealth psychiatry for medication?
Psychiatrists also bill Medicare telehealth items, and psychiatric medication reviews are commonly done by videoconference. Initial assessments often need in-person, but follow-up medication reviews are well-suited to telehealth. ADHD assessment and stimulant medication initiation has specific state-by-state rules – New South Wales for example tightened authority-to-prescribe rules in 2023; check current local guidance with the prescribing psychiatrist.
Is bulk-billed telehealth psychology available?
Yes, in pockets. Some Better Access psychologists bulk-bill specifically for telehealth where overheads are lower than maintaining a physical practice. headspace (12–25) bulk-bills both telehealth and in-person sessions. Some community-mental-health services and a number of small online-only practices bulk-bill. Waitlists are similar to in-person bulk-billed services (6–16 weeks). Search by “bulk billed telehealth psychologist” on practice listings or call the practice directly.
General information only. This is general information about telehealth psychology in Australia, not clinical advice. Rebate amounts and item descriptors current to the 2025-26 MBS schedule – confirm with the practice and at mbsonline.gov.au. Speak with an AHPRA-registered psychologist for advice on your specific situation.