**Currently we do not have a Consulting Psychiatrist available. This page will be updated when we do**
The Psychiatry Assessment and Management Plan (Medicare Item 291) is for the purpose of gaining an opinion and report for the GP. The GP manages the treatment as the primary health-care provider and may work with allied health professionals such as psychologists to treat mental health conditions.
The GP must state that the referral is for an opinion and report. The item number is not for ongoing treatment by the psychiatrist. The psychiatrist will provide the GP a detailed written report within 2 weeks of the appointment*. Psychologists may also receive a copy of the report to assist with treatment if they have assisted with the referral.
What are the Costs of a Psychiatry Management Plan?
The assessment can spread over two sessions, and if it does, the second sessions will be covered by Medicare at no additional cost to the client.
After the provision of the initial report, the patient, their GP or allied health practitioner could access a review of progress with the same psychiatrist (under item 293) – this will have to be after at least six months post initial assessment.
What occurs during the appointment?
The appointment is an assessment of relevant and distressing current issues and a comprehensive review of the past. The psychiatrist will make recommendations for beneficial treatment options.
The psychiatrist will review the clients biological, psychological and social issues, provide a diagnosis if appropriate, make recommendations for treatment using both therapeutic interventions and medications if considered appropriate. On occasion the psychiatrist may request a follow up session if further information is needed. Clients may need to fill in questionnaires as part of the appointment.
It is important that clients bring past reports, medical results, list of medications, information on known allergies or lab investigation results to the appointment. Often these details will be listed on the referral from the GP.
What are the steps needed to see our Psychiatrist?
- Book an appointment with your psychologist or GP to discuss whether gaining a Psychiatry assessment would be helpful. Often your psychologist will send a letter to the GP requesting this as a step in your care.
- Email our practice and request that one of our psychiatry admin team will call you about your needs. Unfortunately due to high demand, it is usually the case we cannot accept new referrals as any availability is first given to a client who sees a psychologist in our practice.
- Book into your usual GP and request “Psychiatry Assessment and Management Plan for an opinion and report – Item 291” and the GP can assist you to find a psychiatrist even if our team cannot help. Note: If the GP requests the psychiatrist to treat the client, then this referral cannot be used.
- Send you referral to Vision Psychology or M1 Psychology. Fax (07) 3420 5824 if our psychiatry admin team have indicated that we are likely to be able to receive your referral. However even with the referral there are times that our limited appointments prevent the appointment for months as we must prioritise those clients managed by our psychologists in the first place.
- The psychiatrist will send the report to your GP (and psychologist if requested) after the consults.
If you are unsure if you need a psychiatrist or psychologist consider booking a free emotional health check up with one our psychologists.
To make an appointment try Online Booking. Alternatively, you can call Vision Psychology Brisbane on (07) 3088 5422.
Please email our psychiatry team on the form below: