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Appointment Policy

Thank you for booking your first appointment with us. We aim to make the process as smoothly as possible, as we understand all families undergo their own difficult times. We try to ensure you enjoy your experience with us as we pride ourselves for our principles of being client-centred.

 

Here are a few little things we thought may help you prepare for your first session:

To engage with our service, you must complete their Client Registration Form, which includes:

  • Client Information

  • Payment Type (e.g., Medicare, NDIS)

  • Consent Form (Confidentiality Agreement)

  • Our Cancellation Policy

  • Emergency Contact

Please send any relevant paperwork to us PRIOR to your first meeting, including:

  • Referral letters from you or your child’s GP, paediatrician, or psychiatrist

  • Any Medicare paperwork relating to treatment plans (Mental Healthcare Plan or Team Care Arrangements)

  • Helping Children with Autism/ Better Start for Children with Disabilities

  • Any reports from other health professionals such as previous therapists

If you or your child is an NDIS particpant, we require you to also:

  • Complete the NDIS Service Agreement

  • Provide pages on the NDIS plan on the goals

  • Plan Manager (if any) details

 

Referral & Rebates

A referral from your GP is not a requirement. However, if you wish to obtain a rebate under the Medicare Benefit Scheme, you are required to obtain a Mental Healthcare Plan (MHCP)  from your GP PRIOR TO attending your first appointment. If you are eligible for a MHCP and have obtained one before engaging us, you might be able to claim $89.65-$131.65 each consultation.

If you have Private Health Insurance, please check with your policy prior to your engagement to check your eligibility and limit.

Sprout Psychology has no control over your eligibility to receive rebates or health insurance, and has no involvement with the process of obtaining a treatment plan.

 

Assessments and reports are charged separately and are inapplicable for Medicare rebates.

Please be reminded, it is clients' personal responsibility to check their eligibility to obtain a Mental Healthcare Plan or Private Health Insurance.

Please note you cannot claim another person’s Mental Healthcare Plan or Chronic Diseases Management Plan as Medicare requires that the person must be present for their sessions.

You also cannot claim two insurance at the same time.

 

Fees & Payments

APS National Schedule of Recommended Fees recommends 45 to 60 minute consultation fee as $280. Our current consultation fee is $250-$280 per 50 to 60 minutes. Once you have made your first appointment, you will receive a confirmation email with the fee schedule stated. 

Hourly-rates apply or sessions running overtime (e.g., 15 minutes = 0.25 h).

Available payment options include: Private Health Insurance, MasterCard/ VISA/ AMEX,

EFTPOS or Cash. Payments with debit or credit cards, a small % of surcharge will be deducted automatically from the EFTPOS machine (TYRO). Clients are required to make payment on the day of service.

 

NDIS clients will be able to claim on their NDIS portal using the invoice we provide. Please leave us with the Plan Manager's email if your plan is "Plan Managed".

 

Please read the following carefully

Services Included in Consultation Fees

To ensure the delivery of best practice, the following services are included in the fees stated above:

  • Emails and short phone calls to other health professionals/ teachers (< 10 minutes)

  • Preparation and planning time for each session

  • Clinical notes documentation for each session

  • Medicare reporting (Mental Healthcare Plan and CDM reports back to your GP)

  • Resource development for sessions

  • Research

The following are additional services that can be offered with additional costs based on hourly rate:

  • Preparing and completion of funding reports

  • Preparing and completion of reports of Cognitive, Academic assessments, ASD, ADHD assessments, and other psychological assessments (e.g., TAC, Workcover).

  • Formal letters to specialists/ GPs

  • Completion of carer allowance forms

  • Completion of NDIS Forms

  • Completion of NDIS Reports

  • Preparing classroom strategies / Individualized Learning Plan 

  • School Visits and school ILP meetings

  • Teacher/ professional phone consultations/ discussions (more than 15 minutes in length)

  • All additional services and report writing are billed at an hourly rate.

 

Travel/Parking:

The clinic address is 369 Burwood Hwy, Burwood VIC 3125. Client Parking is available on site. The closest train station is Burwood Station. There are multiple bus lines and trams to the clinic. 75 tram line stops right in front of the practice. Buses (767, 732, 733) are also available.

Cancellation Policy

  • Cancellation with less than 48 hours of notice will incur a cancellation fee of 100% the consultation fee.

  • Rescheduling needs to occur 48 hours ahead otherwise the cancellation fee still applies.

  • No shows or same day cancellations will incur a charge of 100% of the consultation fee.

  • You must cancel or reschedule before 5 pm on a Friday for a Monday appointment, or by 5 pm on the last working day before the public holiday if your appointment is scheduled for the first working day after the public holiday.

  • You consent for the clinic to deduct the Cancellation Fee from the credit card you have provided when registering with the service.

  • Cancellation Fees cannot be paid towards future appointments and are not claimable with all insurers except NDIS.

Please arrive 5 minutes before your appointment. Late attendance will shorten your consultation time or incur extra charges. All appointment charges are based on the initial rates quoted. If your appointment is extended (> 10 minutes), the session fee will increase in accordance to the hourly rate.

Why do we have a cancellation policy?

  • Cancellation fees apply in health practices as late cancellations create a financial loss for the business.

  • When an appointment is made, a time slot is reserved and blocked out with a clinician for the client. 
    The clinician also has to block out time to prepare for the session.

  • There are only very limited appointments available, particularly in afterschool hours or on Saturdays. 

  • It is unfair to other clients who are waiting on the waiting list and can take up the slots if prior notice was given.

  • There are substantial overhead costs associated with providing the services. The clinician has to be paid for, regardless of the attendance of the client.

  • We might waive cancellation fees for clients, but this is at the discretion of the clinic director.

What are the circumstances a Cancellation Fee will be charged?

  • Where your appointment clashed with another commitment (inconvenience)

    • A meeting called at work or any changes to work rosters or travel requirements

    • A school, sports or extracurricular event

    • A family activity or holiday

    • Changes to the availability of a babysitter or child care service​

  • Where it was difficult for you to attend your appointment (difficulty); 

  • Where you can no longer afford the cost of the appointment (expensive)

  • Simply have forgotten the appointment

  • Fallen sick but want to wait and see if the symptoms will improve on the day of the appointment

Are there any exceptions?
Yes – If your psychologist is able to offer a suitable alternative time within the SAME calendar week AND you reschedule (and attend) the rescheduled appointment. Hence why we need early notice to allow time for rescheduling to happen.


We understand that illnesses and family emergencies sometimes occur without warning.
A medical certificate may at our discretion be required to waive the cancellation fee.
Although we accept that such events may be beyond your control, we still require that you take responsibility for these types of circumstances.


Paying Cancellation Fees
If a cancellation fee is charged under this policy and you do not pay the fee promptly we will be unable to continue providing you with the service. We also reserve the right to take any further reasonable action necessary to recover any unpaid fees and to bill you for any reasonable additional costs incurred in taking such action.


We hope you find this to be a fair and reasonable policy and we thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
 

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