Medicare Items

The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has introduced Medicare items for children with ASDs. These new items are for:
• consultant physicians (paediatricians and psychiatrists) to diagnose and develop a treatment plan for children under 13 on referral from a GP
• psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to provide up to four services in total per child to collaborate with the psychiatrist or paediatrician on the assessment where required
• psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists to provide early intervention treatment following diagnosis (providing up to 20 services in total per child).
Further information on the Medicare items can be obtained by calling the Department of Health and Ageing on (02) 6289 4297, or the Medicare Australia Patient Enquiry Line on 13 20 11.