Autism Initiatives
With the launch of the Federal Government's Helping Children with Autism package, occupational therapists can now provide assessments to assist in diagnosis and early intervention treatment.
Early intervention assistance funding package
The early intervention funding under the Helping Children with Autism (HCWA) package is aimed at providing increased access to early intervention for children aged zero to six with an ASD. The funding supports the delivery of multidisciplinary evidence based early intervention to facilitate improved cognitive, emotional and social development prior to a child starting school.
· Eligible families can access service providers from the panel of Early Intervention Service Providers.
· To be eligible for the early intervention funding package a child must have been seen by an Autism Advisor and deemed eligible to access the program before their sixth birthday. The $12,000 in funding under the early intervention component can be used until the child’s seventh birthday to a maximum of $6,000 per financial year.
· Funding for these services is accessed via FaHCSIA.
Support for older children with an ASD
The Department of Health and Ageing (DoHA) has made new Medicare items available for children aged under 13 years (for diagnosis and treatment planning) and under 15 years (for treatment).
Medicare Autism Rebates
MBS Item No. | Rebate Amount | Eligible Patients | Number of Eligible Sessions | Prerequisite for claiming |
82010 | $67.50 (minimum 50 minute session) | Children under 13 | Up to four (4) allied health assessment services in total per eligible child. | The child must have been referred by a consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist for assessment, contribution to a treatment plan or early intervention treatment. The referring consultant paediatrician or psychiatrist must have claimed a consultation for item 82010, or claimed item 135 or 289 for item 82025. |
82025 | $67.50 (minimum 30 minute session) | Children aged under 15 years (and who were aged under 13 years at the time of receiving a treatment plan) | Up to twenty (20) allied health treatment services in total per eligible child. | As above |
Who can refer
Either an eligible consultant paediatrician or an eligible consultant psychiatrist.
Other Information
Your therapist will report to your doctor after the initial consultation and at the end of the allocated sessions.