Funding

The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) was introduced in 2013 in a number of trial sites including Newcastle. The NDIS is designed to provide financial support to people with a disability to allow them to access necessary health and disability services to ensure they are not disadvantaged by their condition.

Red Frog for Families is authorised to provide services under the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

For further information about the National Disability Insurance Scheme, including determining if you or your child may be able to receive funding for services through the scheme, please refer to the NDIS website:

• NDIS website
• Accessing the NDIS Participant Portal

The CDMP was previously known as the Enhanced Primary Care Plan (EPC), and is often still referred to as an EPC by doctors and allied health professionals.

This plan is available to anyone “with at least one medical condition that has been (or is likely to be) present for at least six months; or is terminal” and provides a rebate for five sessions annually of allied health services (which include occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and psychology). At at October 2020, the rebate is $54.60 per session.

For full information about eligibility and benefits, please refer to the Medicare Benefits Scheme website:

• Chronic Disease Management Plan
• Occupational Therapy under CDMP
• Speech Pathology under CDMP
• Psychology under CDMP

This plan is available to anyone “with a mental disorder  who would benefit from a structured approach to the management of their treatment needs.” Mental disorder is “a term used to describe a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly interfere with an individual’s cognitive, emotional or social abilities”. The GP Mental Health Treatment Plan provides a rebate for up to 10 sessions annually with psychiatrist, clinical psychology, or allied mental health providers (including occupational therapy at Red Frog for Families). As at October 2020, the rebate is $77.10 per session for occupational therapy, or $87.45 per session with psychology.

For full information about eligibility and benefits, please refer to the Medicare Benefits Scheme website:

• GP Mental Health Treatment Plan
• Occupational Therapy under MHCP
• Psychology under MHCP

Many private health insurance plans cover occupational therapy, speech therapy, and psychology services (typically listed on “Options” policies). Red Frog for Families is a provider for most of the major private health funds. Please contact your private health fund directly to determine what support is offered for you to access occupational therapy or speech therapy services.