ADHD assessment cost in Australia

One assessment service says its ADHD assessment can include an intake interview, rating scales, a clinical report of findings and a follow-up appointment to discuss results.

Medicare pays back $155.85 for a first visit to a consultant physician (item 110) and $77.95 for each later visit in the same course of treatment (item 116), when the visit follows a referral.

Ask the paediatrician whether your child’s assessment can use M10 items. Under Medicare, only a paediatrician or psychiatrist can diagnose a complex neurodevelopmental condition. M10 assessment sessions need a referral from a paediatrician or psychiatrist for a suspected complex neurodevelopmental disorder, or from a GP, specialist or consultant physician for a suspected eligible disability.

For an M10 assessment session, Medicare pays back $101.55 for a session with a psychologist and $89.50 for a session with a speech pathologist or an occupational therapist. M10 allows a maximum of 8 assessment services and 20 treatment services per patient per lifetime.

For a complex neurodevelopmental condition, treatment sessions need an M10 treatment plan from a paediatrician (item 135) or a psychiatrist (item 289).

After a diagnosis, Medicare Better Access lets eligible patients claim a Medicare benefit for mental health treatment services if they have been assessed with a clinically diagnosed mental disorder.

The NDIS does not pay for diagnostic assessments. The NDIS early childhood approach helps children younger than 6 with developmental delay or children younger than 9 with disability and their families, and your child doesn’t need a diagnosis for an early childhood partner to help.

One public child development service says that wait times for its services can vary. That service says it will advise the expected wait time once your child’s referral has been accepted.

Ask the service how long the wait is for your child.

If your child loses skills they had, or you become more worried, don’t wait: see your GP or child health nurse.