Fees
Initial Consultation
The cost of the consultation depends on your childs needs.
This includes a consultation or consultations and may include a school visit if required, plus written summary or full report and recommendations.
Subsequent Therapy sessions
Therapy session times and cost will vary depending on your child’s age, needs and whether individual or group.
Rebates
Private Health Insurance
Write Start therapists are registered with most of the leading Private Health Care insurers. Generally, allied health services will need to be listed as an optional extra on your policy for you to be covered for them and coverage varies between providers. You will need to contact your provider to establish whether you have cover for occupational therapy sessions. Claimable amounts differ according to the type and level of cover that you have, and needs to be checked with your insurer.
You are responsible for paying for your session in full and then claiming back the rebate from your provider.
NDIS
National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) is a new national funding scheme currently being rolled out across the disability sector in Australia. If eligible for NDIS, your child will receive funding on an annual basis to buy the services and aids required for optimal independence. Write Start is not a registered NDIS provider, but services provided by Write Start can be paid for by clients who self manage their NDIS funding.
Further information is available on the NDIS website at
https://www.ndis.gov.au/families-carers
FaHCSIA funding
FaHCSIA (Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs) is a federal government funding initiative for children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD). The scheme provides funding for children aged between 0-6 years to access approved early intervention services. Each eligible child is able to access a total of $12,000, but no more than $6000 per financial year.
Please note, once your $6000 annual limit is reached, you will be responsible for payment of any further sessions.
Families are required to present their Letter of Introduction from Amaze prior to claiming services through Write Start Occupational Therapy.
After each session, families will be required to sign a Service Delivery Record indicating that the session has been completed. Families will receive a quarterly statement from FaHCSIA regarding their funding balances.
Better Start
The Better Start for Children with Disability initiative provides funding for early intervention services for children with a specific developmental disability. Eligible children diagnosed with Down syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, Fragile X syndrome, blindness, deafness, Prader Willi syndrome, Williams syndrome, Angelman syndrome, Kabuki syndrome, Smith-Magenis syndrome, CHARGE syndrome, Cornelia de Lange syndrome, Cri du Chat syndrome, Microcephaly or Rett’s Disorder will have access to funding under the Better Start for Children with Disability initiative.
The scheme provides funding for children aged between 0-6 years to access approved early intervention services. Each eligible child is able to access a total of $12,000, but no more than $6000 per financial year.
Families are required to present their Letter of Introduction prior to claiming services through Write Start Occupational Therapy.
After each session, families will be required to sign a Service Delivery form indicating that the session has been completed. Families will receive a quarterly statement from FaHCSIA regarding their funding balances. Please note, once your $6000 annual limit is reached, you will need to start paying for services as usual.
HCWA – Helping Children with Autism Initiative
The Helping Children with Autism initiative is a funding scheme that enables children with autism or other pervasive developmental disorders to access early intervention services. Eligible children are entitled to a maximum of 4 rebated sessions for Allied Health Assessments and a further 20 rebated sessions for Allied Health Intervention. These sessions are available once in a lifetime before the age of 13. Appropriate referral from a paediatrician, or psychiatrist is required. There is a $112 rebate per session, with an out of pocket expense of $23 for a 45 minute session.
Medicare- Chronic Disease Management Plan (CDMP)
Your child will only be eligible for a Medicare rebate if they are accessing more than one allied health service. You will need to get a Medicare Plan from your GP or paediatrician prior to your first session in order to claim the rebate. Your child will be eligible for a rebate for only 5 sessions across the various disciplines per calendar year. There is a $55.10 rebate irrespective of session length, with an out of pocket expense for all sessions. You cannot pay the gap with your private health insurance.
Medicare – Mental Health Care Plans (MHP)
The Mental Health Plan is a Medicare-rebated funding program for people who have mental health conditions (anxiety, depression etc.) It consists of up to 10 rebates per calendar year to be used for occupational therapy and/or psychology services. Your child may be eligible for this funding package if they have a mental health condition or a diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder, Anxiety Disorder or ADD / ADHD and if this condition is being managed by your GP or Mental Health Provider.
You will need to visit your GP or Mental Health Provider to discuss eligibility and obtain the Mental Health Care Plan, which must be done prior to attending occupational therapy sessions at Write Start. You are then entitled to claim six sessions under this program. A review by your GP is required before the other four sessions can be accessed.
Please note that Beverley Kadish is the ONLY therapist who can use the Mental Health Plan when treating your child.