Consultation Fees
Note: Dr Torres is currently unable to take on additional bulk-billing or reduced fee clients.
Depending on capacity, Dr Cristian Torres may offer a proportion of his clients a reduced-rate fee, or bulk-billing. Availability of this reduced fee or bulk-billing is limited and, if there is availability, depends on client financial circumstances (for example, clients who are pensioners, unemployed, or on government benefits may be eligible). You should ask what fee applies to you at your initial intake interview over the phone. If no prior arrangement has been made, the prevailing full fee will apply.
Payment is required at the end of your consultation unless prior arrangements have been made. Prior arrangements are for exceptional circumstances only. A HICAPS merchant facility is available at the clinic allowing clients to pay using EFTPOS or credit. The HICAPS facility also allows clients to claim their Medicare or (where available) participating Private Health Fund rebate, on the spot.
Provisional Psychologists – offering reduced fees
Capital Clinical Psychology sometimes hosts students doing their final placements under their Clinical Masters program. These Provisional Psychologists are unable to offer Medicare rebates, however we do offer services as a considerably reduced rate. To see if we currently have any provisional psychologists, see our consulting room practitioner page. The fees will be listed under the provisional psychologist’s profile.
Rebates
Dr Torres is registered with Medicare to provide clinical “Psychological Therapy” items. This means that clients referred by their GP or psychiatrist with a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) receive a Medicare rebate of $124.50 per session.
Under the Medicare rebate scheme, clients are currently eligible to receive up to 10 sessions under a MHCP per calendar year (Jan-Dec). An initial 6 sessions are approved by your GP, and a further 4 sessions may be approved following a review. No further sessions are claimable under Medicare after these have been exhausted, and the client would need to fund any ongoing sessions personally. The number of sessions you are eligible for under Medicare is determined by your referring practitioner.
Please check with your private health fund to confirm any rebates available to you. You may claim either Medicare or a private health fund rebate, NOT both.
Should you have difficulty attending your session time in person, telephone or online consultations may also be arranged by negotiation. These sessions attract the same consultation fee as a face to face consultation, however are not covered by Medicare. In exceptional circumstances, home visits may also be arranged in consultation with Dr Torres.
Psychological Reports & Letters
Psychological reports and letters are charged separately based on an hourly rate, and attract a GST component. Please note that all reports and letters must pre paid before they will be released. There is usually at least a 10 business day turnaround for the preparation of reports.
Supervision Services
Clinical supervision is charged seperately and attracts a GST component (note that supervision attended for training purposes – such as while undertaking a Registrar Program – does not attract GST). Preparation and review of supervision plans and review reports are charged separately based on the hourly supervision rate.
Cancellation Policy
Your appointment time has been reserved especially for you. This means that somebody else cannot have this appointment. If for some reason you are unable to attend your appointment please advise Dr Torres as soon as possible so that it can be reallocated. You can provide notice that you are running late for, or unable to attend your appointment by calling and leaving a message on the office phone 02 6282 1002.
You may also send an email to reception@capitalclinicalpsychology.com
If insufficient time is provided (a minimum of 24 hours is required), you will be charged the session fee.