Putting you first at the centre of what we do. Keeping you healthy and safe at work. Supporting you when you are harmed at work. Ensuring your scheme works and is sustainable.

Psychology Policy

Policy

Comcare can fund the reasonable cost of Psychology or Counselling treatment required as a result of work-related injuries where the service is referred by and is under the supervision of a legally qualified medical practitioner.

Guidelines

What Psychology / Counselling services can Comcare fund?

Comcare can fund the reasonable cost of Psychology/Counselling services where:

there is clinical justification for treatment
the treatment is likely to be effective and achieve or maintain measurable functional improvement
the treatment promotes progress towards functional independence, participation and self management
there is an up to date referral (within 12 months) from a legally qualified medical practitioner and a has been provided to Comcare.

Commencing treatment

Comcare is able to fund:

An initial five sessions of Psychology/Counselling for a new Injured Worker prior to the submission of a Psychology /Counselling Treatment Notification Plan (TNP).

Comcare requires a TNP to be completed and submitted by the Psychologist/Counsellor when:

Psychology/Counselling is expected to exceed 5 treatment sessions
there has been a gap in treatment of greater than 12 months
the Comcare Injured Worker attends a new Psychology/Counselling clinic

Only one TNP is usually required during the life of the claim. All fields on the TNP must be completed.

If reasonable additional Psychology/Counselling services are required following the completion of a treatment plan, it is requested that the Psychologist/Counsellor will contact the Claims Services Officer by phone to discuss the progress of the injured worker and the need for further services. Psychologists/Counsellors should not submit multiple TNPs, a report or review plans unless specifically requested by Comcare.

Significant gaps in treatment

For the purpose of this policy, a gap in treatment is when no Psychology/Counselling services have been sought for more than 12 months and treatment resumes after this period. Comcare is able to fund Psychology/Counselling services after a gap in treatment via the following process:

Completion of a TNP
Confirmation that the treatment is related to the work-related injury
An up to date referral has been made by a legally qualified medical practitioner

Ongoing Treatment

For injured workers receiving long term Psychology or Counselling services, Comcare may request a review of treatment goals and progress. Comcare will write to the Psychology/Counselling service provider and request completion of a Psychology/Counselling Review Treatment Plan (RTP) on a case by case basis. The RTP template will be sent to the provider for completion at the time of the review.

Comcare will fund the completion of a RTP which is inclusive of a consultation through item number COMPSYR2 –Consultation with RTP.

Invoicing for Psychology/Counselling services inclusive of a TNP

Comcare will fund the completion and submission of the TNP which is inclusive of a consultation through item number COMPSYT1- Consultation with TNP.

Typical billing may involve the following:

initial Consultation x 1
consultation with TNP x 1
standard consultation x 3

Total Consultations = 5 consultations including a TNP

Billing Information required from Psychology/Counselling providers

Comcare requires that the actual provider of the service be identified on each invoice for payment. It is the responsibility of the registered provider to ensure invoices submitted to Comcare are correct, regardless of who has prepared the account. Invoices sent to Comcare must display the following information:

injured worker name
injured worker claim number
date of services
description of services
service location
amount billed for each service
name of the treating Psychologist/Counsellor

Relevant forms and notes

Provider Use only