At Building Blocks Therapy we understand that it is not always easy to afford private therapy for your child and that any financial assistance available is often of great help.  

Below you will find a list of the financial assistance available to pay for some or all of your child’s therapy sessions.

Accounts with Building Blocks Therapy must be paid in full before seeking rebates from your private health provider or Medicare.

Private Health Cover

Building Blocks Therapy therapists are registered with most of the leading private health care insurers. Generally, allied health services will need to be listed as an option on your policy for you to be covered for them and coverage varies between providers. We therefore recommend that you contact your Private Health Insurer to find out what your rebate will be.

Medicare Funding Options

Building Blocks Therapy is an approved provider for 3 different plans under Medicare.

  • Chronic Disease Management Plan – CDMP (formerly ECP plan)
  • Mental Health Care Plans –  MHCP
  • Autism Spectrum Disorder Plans – ASD

If your child is eligible for the above funding options it is advised that these plans be in place prior to commencing therapy. Because Building Blocks Therapy charges more than the Medicare amount, full payment will need to be paid by the parents and then the rebate can be claimed through medicare.

Chronic Disease Management Plan

The Chronic Diseases Management Plan (CDM) is a Medicare-rebated funding program for people who have chronic medical conditions (classified as a condition that has been present for at least 6 months).

It consists of 5 (maximum) rebates per calendar year for Allied Health services (ie. Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy and Psychology). If you are accessing more than one type of therapy you are entitled to share the CDM sessions across the therapists (ie. not 5 rebates per service).

If eligible your GP will complete the required paperwork and give the form to you to bring into the clinic. You are then entitled to claim under this program provided your GP has registered your plan with Medicare.

Sessions are paid for as usual and then your receipt is taken to Medicare for the rebate.

Mental Health Care Plan

The Mental Health Plan (MHP) is a Medicare-rebated funding program for people who have mental health conditions (anxiety, depression, OCD etc.). Your child’s Paediatrician or GP may consider your child to be eligible for Occupational Therapy services under a Mental Health Plan. Item number 80135. With a Mental Health Plan you would be able to claim for ten Occupational Therapy sessions a year. Initially your Doctor will refer you for six sessions and then after a review you may be eligible for four more sessions.

Autism Plan

The Autism plan is a Medicare-rebated funding scheme that has been put in place to help fund assessment and therapy for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The funding scheme provides funding for eligible children to access 4 sessions for assessment and 20 sessions for therapy with Speech Pathologists, Occupational Therapists or Psychologists. The plan can be issued by a general practitioner or by a specialist (i.e. Paediatrician) or consultant physician. Your child’s treatment plan must be in place before their 13th birthday, and the sessions must be used before they turn 15.

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS)

NDIS is a new national funding scheme being rolled out across the disability sector in Australia over the next few years. NDIS offers an information and referral service to any Australian with any level of disability, including access to specialist disability support services.

If your child is eligible for NDIS, you will receive funding on an annual basis to buy the services and aids your child needs to achieve your goals and optimal independence.

You can decide whether to manage the funds yourself (“self-managed”) or you can ask the NDIS to manage these funds for you. NDIS has partially rolled out in Melbourne. Please click this link for further information.

Helping Children with Autism Initiative (HCWA)

HCWA is a funding scheme for children who have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or Pervasive Developmental Delay (PDD). You are eligible to access this funding through Autism Victoria if your child is between the ages of 0-6 years. Children must be approved for this funding prior to their 6th birthday and the funding can be accessed until the child’s 7th birthday.

The funding is up to $6000 per financial year (up to a total of $12,000) and is specifically for early intervention for the eligible child. You can use this funding only with registered health providers. Building Blocks Therapy is registered to provide these services to eligible children.

Families are required to present their Letter of Introduction from their Autism Advisor (Amaze) prior to claiming these services through Building Blocks 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 DSS regarding their funding balances. More information including how to get in touch with an Autism Advisor for assessment contact the Helping Children with Autism Inquiry Line by calling 1800 778 581.

Better Start Initiative

Better Start is a funding scheme that allows children with developmental disabilities to access funding for early intervention services.  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 DSS regarding their funding balances.