info@glowcentre.com.au T: 07 3184 2559 F: 07 3319 6618
Thank you for choosing to refer your patient to The Glow Centre.
Our team of experienced clinicians see clients from the age of 13 (see clinician bios for more information).
Referring your patient to us
What to provide us with
Referral letter
All referring doctors (GPs, psychiatrists and paediatricians) must provide a referral letter.
There’s no standard form for mental health referrals. You can refer your patient for services with a signed and dated letter.
The Australian Government stipulates that a valid referral letter must include the following:
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Date
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Patient name
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Patient symptoms or diagnosis
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Number of sessions (see below section Referral Process for maximum referral sessions)
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Signature and provider number of referrer
Please take into consideration any referrals already provided to your patient for psychological therapy and/or focused psychological strategies, and the number of sessions they may have claimed rebates for within the current calendar year.
Referring for further sessions
A re-referral letter is required for an additional course of treatment.
When a client has used all sessions on their referral (eg. 6 sessions), they can request a re-referral letter for additional sessions under the current MHCP.
They do not need a MHCP review, additional sessions can be referred for under the first MHCP.
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GP mental health treatment consultation item (2713)
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Standard GP consultation item number
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Can be used as often as necessary
Referral validity
Referrals are valid for the number of services shown on the referral letter. Mental health referrals do not expire at the end of the year.
If your patient has unused services on referral at the end of the calendar year, they can continue to use them the next year.
GP Mental Health Care Plans
A GP prepares a Mental Health Care Plan with their patient in order to activate sessions claimable under Medicare.
A GP Mental Health Care Plan (GPMHCP):
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is an assessment and treatment plan made by medical practitioner
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does not expire
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does not need to be reviewed or completed annually, unless a change of diagnosis occurs
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does not need to be provided to the therapist
GPMHCP reviews:
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only need be conducted when there is a change in the patient's presentation/diagnosis
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can be done on an as needed basis
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are not required for a re-referral for additional course of treatment (additional psychological sessions). See above information regarding referral letters.
Please contact our practice before referring under any other referral type
Referral process - Better Access
Once you’ve completed a GPMHTP you can refer your patient for a range of mental health services, including:
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psychological therapy services performed by a clinical psychologist
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allied health FPS services performed by a registered psychologist or social worker
The number of services stated in the referral letter is a ‘course of treatment’.
The maximum number of sessions you can include on a referral for each course of treatment is:
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6 sessions using the initial MBS items
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10 sessions using the additional MBS items (valid 9 October 2020 - 31 December 2022
A patient can have 2 or more courses of treatment within their calendar year with a limit of:
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10 initial services
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10 additional services
Patients need a new referral for each course of treatment.
Please take into consideration any referrals already provided to your patient for psychological therapy and/or focused psychological strategies, and the number of sessions they may have claimed rebates for within the current calendar year.
The initiative stipulates that doctors refer for courses of treatment as follows:
Fact sheets
Referral process - Eating Disorder Treatment Plans
We accept clients with an eating disorder treatment and management plan, which enables them to access Medicare rebates for up to 40 eating disorder psychological treatment (EDPT) sessions in a 12-month period.
The structure of these plans differ from the above Better Access Initiative in some ways.
EDPTs are valid for 12 months from the date the plan was made, and must be reviewed after every 10 sessions.
To continue beyond 20 sessions, a patient must have two additional reviews before they can access more than 20 EDPT services (one review by a medical practitioner in general practice and the other by a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist.
The referring practitioner is responsible for determining that a patient is eligible for an EDP and therefore EDPT and dietetic services. These items do not apply to services provided to admitted (in-hospital) patients.
Under an Eating Disorder Treatment Plan, doctors refer for courses of treatment as follows:
MBS Eating Disorders
Fact sheets
Communication and collaboration
This is how you can expect us to work with you:
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Upon receipt of referral, our Client Relations Team will make contact with your patient regarding appointment availability. Availability can vary and we often operate a waitlist. We will advise both you and your patient of there is a significant wait.
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We will notify you once your patient has attended their first scheduled appointment, and advise the outcome of the session and the plan for therapy moving forward.
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After 6 sessions, we will write to you to give a treatment update and recommend any additional course of treatment in order for you to consider preparing another referral.
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After the next 4 sessions, we will again write to you with a treatment update.
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If you have then recommended the client continue treatment, you may decide to refer for the additional 10 sessions under the MBS guidelines.
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We will then write to you at the end of that course of treatment.
We always welcome calls from referring doctors, we are only too happy to chat with you about your patient's treatment. We are committed to excellence in outcomes and greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with our clients' treating team in order to ensure the best possible all-round care is provided to our clients.