FAQs
Do I need a referral?
You do not need a referral to be seen at Encompass Therapy. Medical referrals will be required if you wish to claim part or all of the cost of your consult through Department of Veteran’s Affairs (DVA) scheme or through the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) scheme subsidised by Medicare (see below).
Can I claim through Medicare for Encompass Therapy services?
Encompass Therapy is a registered Medicare provider. Medicare provides claim benefits for chronic medical conditions and for clients with complex care needs. If you are living with a condition that has lasted, or is predicted to last, for six months or longer, you may be eligible for Medicare assistance under the Chronic Disease Management (CDM) scheme. Chronic conditions covered include cancer, lymphoedema, arthritis, heart disease and diabetes. Eligible patients are entitled to Medicare benefits for up to 5 allied health consults (including occupational therapy) per calender year.
To be eligible for Medicare benefits, you will require a referral for Occupational Therapy services from your General Practitioner and our services must be part of an overall care plan. A gap payment will also be required. After your first and fifth consult, Roseanne will provide written feedback to your GP to ensure that your care plan is being followed.
For more information you can refer to the Allied Health under Medicare Information
What private health fund rebates are available?
It is recommended that you contact your private health fund directly to determine if Occupational Therapy treatment is covered and what rebates are available per session. Some funds also offer rebates on the cost of medical compression garments and devices as well as on the cost of consultations. You will be provided with an itemised invoice that you can submit to your health fund.
What is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational Therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting health and well-being through occupation. As an Occupational Therapist, I believe that our ability to engage in meaningful occupation is at the core of our health and wellbeing. That is where the profession of Occupational Therapy was born… with the recognition after World War 1 that returned soldiers needed to feel that they could again engage in the range of tasks and roles that they had performed prior to sustaining their physical, psychological and emotional injuries. They needed more than rest and physical rehabilitation – they needed to feel that they were capable and valued members of their families and communities.
Occupational therapy services typically include:
An individualised evaluation, during which the client and therapist determine goals for treatment
Customized intervention to improve the client’s ability to perform important tasks and life roles that may include hands on treatment of the client as well as modification to task and environment to promote task performance
Outcome based evaluation and review.
What should I bring to an Occupational Therapy appointment?
As a primary health care provider, any information regarding your medical condition may by useful to me when assessing your needs and determining goals for treatment. Please remember to bring any test results, medical reports and/or medication information with you to the appointment.
If you are undergoing lymphoedema treatment, please bring any previously worn or prescribed garments with you to the appointment.
If you are undergoing hands on treatment, you may feel more comfortable wearing shorts rather than long pants or jeans which would need to be removed for assessment and treatment.
What if I need to change or cancel an appointment?
Please refer to Encompass Therapy terms and conditions. See below.
Your appointment time has been specifically set aside for you alone as this practice values your time. We understand things can change due to unforeseen circumstances. With at least 24 hours notice an appointment can be rescheduled. If you cancel with less than 24 hours notice a 50% cancellation fee will apply. If you do not attend an appointment full cost of the consult is payable. If you are running late for an appointment, kindly contact us by phone. Late arrivals will be seen for the remainder of their appointment time only so that subsequent appointments can remain on schedule. Payment is due in full at the end of each treatment session. Payment by cash, debit or credit card will be accepted.