Blowout in mental health costs

Reports today on Medicare blowouts on psychological therapy, with costs estimated to reach $1.5 billion by 2011.

A welcome move in 2006, concerns are now being raised that the scheme is not benefitting the disadvantaged most at need of such a service, with many patients still being hit by out of pocket expenses to cover the gap between psychologist charges and the Medicare rebate. Certainly, while I bulk bill (no gap) some clients, low-gap others ($25), the decision as to who gets what rate is made on the basis of individual circumstances but also the need to make the practice viable.

With the budget up for review shortly, it will be interesting to see what transpires.

Psychopharmacology

Another story alerting people to the potential dangers of drug treatments in psychological disorders can be read here. It is also due to be aired on television this weekend.

I won't go through all the details as you can follow the link to the article yourself but the basic premise is that adverse effects from anti-depressant treatments can actually worsen the situation. The article claims support from leading doctors and medical researchers but fails to provide any details which makes it hard to give any serious consideration to. It will be interesting to see what the television report covers.

For any readers, there are two important things to take from this article.

Firstly, the words of Professor Gordon Parker of The Black Dog Institute:

"The key thing when a clinician is managing

a patient is to do a cost benefit analysis: is this

drug helping, does this drug have side effects?"

Absolutely. If you're being prescribed medication, any medication, you should be asking this question for yourself.

Secondly, the fact that Australia has typically relied heavily on pharmaceutical interventions in mental illness because psychological assistance has been typically been largely available only to those who can afford to pay for it. Thankfully, recent changes to Medicare have changed that. If you're experiencing problems, make sure you ask your GP about the new psychological initiatives covered by Medicare.

A step in the right direction

With Mental Health Week starting tomorrow, the news could not be any more timely - even if it is unofficial at the moment.

Until now, psychological services were mostly limited to those who could afford to pay privately. While there is provision of service within the public health system, resources tend to be both limited and oversubscribed.

This week, it is rumoured that the government will announce rebates under Medicare for one-on-one or group sessions with psychologists for individuals referred either by their G.P. or by a psychiatrist. The rebate will be approximately $100 per session, with a limit of 12 sessions per year.

I qualify this as 'rumoured' because, although widely covered in the media, the Australian Psychological Society (APS) reports that the details are based on 'leaked' and 'inaccurate' information.

The rebate, if it proves to be accurate, is well below the hourly rate recommended by the APS of $186 for a 46-60 minute session. However, psychologists are free to adjust fees according to a client's financial circumstances.

In any case, it is a move, long overdue, in the right direction to making mental health care more affordable and available to those who need it.

For those who are interested, check the APS website after 12.00 pm Monday the 9th October for full details.

Resources

Medicare items to be announced 9th October 2006