The 2015 Edition of the Guidelines for Determining Benefits for Private Health Insurance Purposes for Private Mental Health Care (Guidelines) have been endorsed by the Private Mental Health Alliance (PHMA). They were developed by the PMHA's Collaborative Care Models Working Group. The Guidelines cannot be prescriptive and, at present, are primarily intended to provide guidance for private hospitals and private health insurers in determining health insurance benefits for private patient hospital–based mental health care. This includes same–day, half–day, overnight and approved outreach services as well as community and outpatient services, where applicable. The Guidelines may also be of assistance to State and Territory health authorities and their public hospitals in the treatment of Medicare and privately insured patients and to office–based practitioners. The 2015 Edition includes advice for services that substitute for traditional admitted hospital-based care in the section titled, Alternatives to In Hospital Treatment.
Guidelines for Determining Benefits for Private Health Insurance Purposes for Private Mental Health Care (2015 Edition) 521KB PDF
The Mental Health Privacy Coalition (the Coalition), consisted of the Australian Medical Association, the Mental Health Council of Australia, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists and the Australian Private Hospitals Association. These organisations combined their skills, knowledge and experience and developed a mental health service provider specific kit to support the therapeutic relationship between a mental health service provider and the patient.
Privacy Kit for Mental Health Providers 487KB PDF