This week the APS has been advocating for clarity from Government over whether telehealth Medicare items will be extended beyond 31 March.
Late last year, Federal Health Minister Hunt announced that under Medicare, universal, whole-of-population telehealth will be made permanent. However, this has not yet been extended to psychology sessions.
CEO Dr Zena Burgess and I have this week written to Prime Minister Scott Morrison, Health Minister Greg Hunt and Treasurer Josh Frydenberg, calling on the Government to provide Australians with certainty about their mental health care.
We have made it clear that the data shows how Australians have embraced telehealth – and how 94% of psychologists have adopted telehealth as part of their treatment plans.
We have repeated our advocacy stance that psychologists have been on the front-line of a mental health crisis in Australia, and with only six weeks to go until 31 March, continuity of care for our clients is being compromised.
We have commended the Government for its responsiveness to the mental health impacts of COVID-19 on the community – but its impacts are far from over, and now is the time to ensure better outcomes through making telehealth permanent for psychology.
We will continue to push Government until we have an answer, and we will update members as soon as we have further information.
Tamara Cavenett FAPS GAICD
APS President