INDIVIDUALS, FAMILIES & CARERS

Hello and welcome to our guide for people living with OCD and their support network. On this page, you will find information on how to get on top of your OCD and how to help your loved one navigate this process.

Our Founder, Leigh worked as a medical doctor for years before her OCD diagnosis. She has experience in the Western Australian public and private hospital systems, as well as in community general practice. Despite this experience, she found it hard to access OCD-informed care, so if you’ve felt like it’s been difficult to navigate your OCD recovery, you’re not alone!

If you would like assistance navigating this process, please contact us. We’re here to help. 

  • If you think you might have OCD, the best thing to do will be to discuss your concerns with your General Practitioner (GP).

    OCD WA have prepared a 'First Appointment Form' to assist you with those initial visits. We know it can be scary to share your symptoms at times.  

    An added bonus of membership to OCD WA is access to our Appointment Advocacy service. At your request, a trained member of the OCD WA team can assist you in navigating your initial appointments, in your preferred capacity such as:

    • Filling in your 'First Appointment Form'

    • Support in the GP waiting room

    • Support in the GP consult

    OCD WA are providing education and training on OCD and Related Disorders to GPs and we will be happy to do more of this as requested.

    Please have a look through the information provided in our 'Understanding OCD' and 'Resources' sections of the website. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to ask.

  • We cannot over-emphasise how important your role is in your loved one's recovery. Things that you can do to help include:

    Trying to understand the OCD experience:

    • See Leigh’s description of the comparable feeling she shared with her husband

    • Complete the activity on page 301 of Freedom from Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (Dr Jonathan Grayson).

    Learning as much as you can about OCD:

    • Listen, read, watch, follow

    • Celebrate successes

    • Help your loved one without offering reassurance

    • Learn to recognise and reduce family accommodation behaviours

    • Learn how to identify and address behavioural changes in your loved one

    Be actively involved:

    • Become a member of OCD WA

    • Assist your loved one to access best practice treatment

    • Join a peer support group for family members

    • Encourage your loved one to attend peer support groups

    • Attend our events

    • Volunteer for OCD WA

Not sure who does what?

Here’s a brief guide on the roles of your care providers:

  • GPs play a crucial role in recognising OCD and will be your provider for longitudinal care which includes:

    • Clinical support

    • Prescribing medications

    • Documenting your Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) and reviews for the Better Access Initiative

    • Referrals to psychology, psychiatry, allied health etc.

  • Psychologists will provide the majority of therapy sessions for you. They are highly skilled and will also be able to address other psychological needs etc.

    Make sure your psychologist has additional specialisation in OCD and is specifically trained in ERP. It's OK to ask and we're here to help if you need it.

  • A psychiatrist may be required in some instances, such as:

    • Paediatric cases

    • For formulation and confirmation of diagnoses, when comprehensive assessment is required

    • To manage comorbid diagnoses

    • To prescribe high dose medications

    • To rationalise medication prescribing

these costs are adding up…

Make sure you’re aware of the supports you are eligible for:

1. Better Access Initiative (Mental Health Care Access)

Purpose
The Better Access initiative provides Medicare benefits to eligible people so they can access selected mental health treatment services delivered by approved professionals anywhere in Australia. It supports treatment and management of clinically diagnosed mental disorders, usually of mild to moderate severity.

Who can provide services under Better Access
Mental health treatment services are available from:

  • Eligible General Practitioners (GPs)

  • Eligible prescribed medical practitioners (e.g. some specialists)

  • Eligible clinical and registered psychologists

  • Eligible social workers

  • Eligible occupational therapists

How it works

  • Eligible patients can claim Medicare benefits for up to 10 individual and 10 group mental health treatment services per calendar year (1 January–31 December)
    when they have a diagnosed mental disorder and meet clinical criteria.

  • Patients may attend more sessions if clinically indicated, but Medicare will not pay benefits beyond these limits.

  • Individual MBS telehealth (video/phone) mental health services are now a permanent option where safe and clinically appropriate.

Eligibility and referrals
To access Medicare benefits under Better Access, patients must have:

  • A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) prepared by an eligible GP or prescribed medical practitioner, or

  • A Psychiatrist Assessment and Management Plan (PAMP).

A valid referral is required for allied mental health services and may be provided by:

  • The patient’s usual GP or MyMedicare‑registered practice GP/prescribed medical practitioner, or

  • A psychiatrist or paediatrician (direct referral).

Next steps for patients

  • Book an appointment with your GP (or psychiatrist/paediatrician) to discuss whether you meet criteria for a Mental Health Treatment Plan or other relevant plan.

  • If eligible, your GP will prepare the plan and provide referrals so you can claim Medicare rebates for services within the annual Better Access limits.

 

2. Medicare Safety Net

What it is
The Medicare Safety Nets help reduce your out‑of‑pocket costs for certain out‑of‑hospital services (for example, many GP and specialist visits, tests and scans) once your costs in a calendar year reach specific thresholds. They apply from 1 January to 31 December each year.

How it works

  • When your out‑of‑pocket medical costs for eligible out‑of‑hospital services reach a Safety Net threshold, you receive a higher Medicare benefit for further eligible services for the rest of that calendar year.

  • Your provider’s fees do not change, but Medicare pays you back a higher amount, which reduces your out‑of‑pocket cost.

Types of Safety Nets

  • Original Medicare Safety Net (OMSN):
    Once you meet the OMSN threshold, Medicare generally pays 100% of the Medicare Schedule fee for eligible out‑of‑hospital services (this reduces or removes the “gap” where providers charge at the schedule fee only).

  • Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN):
    After you reach the EMSN threshold, Medicare pays up to 80% of your out‑of‑pocket costs for many eligible out‑of‑hospital services, up to certain benefit caps for some items.

Thresholds and registration points

  • The Original Medicare Safety Net applies automatically when you, as an individual, reach the threshold; you do not need to register.

  • The Extended Medicare Safety Net thresholds are updated annually by the Australian Government; current and future‑year thresholds should always be checked on Services Australia or Department of Health and Aged Care websites, as figures can change year‑to‑year.

  • To combine out‑of‑pocket costs as a couple or family for Safety Net purposes, you must register as a Medicare Safety Net family with Services Australia.

 

3. PBS Safety Net (Medicines Subsidy)

What it is
The Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Safety Net reduces the cost of PBS‑listed medicines once you or your family spend over a set amount on PBS medicines in a calendar year. It applies from 1 January to 31 December each year.

Safety Net thresholds (from 1 January 2025)
From 1 January 2025, the PBS Safety Net thresholds are:

  • General patients: $1,694.00 per calendar year

  • Concession card holders: $277.20 per calendar year

Once you meet the threshold

  • General patients: After reaching the general Safety Net threshold, further PBS prescriptions in that calendar year are charged at the concessional co‑payment rate (noted as $7.70 at the time of the relevant PBS update; always confirm the current concessional co‑payment).

  • Concession card holders: After reaching the concessional Safety Net threshold, PBS medicines are supplied at no cost for the rest of that calendar year.

Tracking PBS Safety Net

  • You can track your PBS expenditure using a Prescription Record Form (PRF), which you and your pharmacist can update with each eligible PBS prescription.

  • Once you or your family reach the threshold, your pharmacist can issue a PBS Safety Net card so you receive reduced‑cost (or free, if concessional) PBS medicines for the rest of the year.

 

4. Practical Tips

  • Mental health: Ask your GP whether you are eligible for a Mental Health Treatment Plan or psychiatrist plan so you can access Better Access rebates for psychological and allied mental health care.

  • Medicare Safety Nets: If you are part of a couple or family and want to combine out‑of‑pocket costs, register as a Medicare Safety Net family with Services Australia, and check current thresholds each year.

  • PBS Safety Net: Ask your pharmacist to help track your PBS expenditure (e.g. via PRF) and to advise when you are close to or have reached the PBS Safety Net threshold so you can benefit from lower medicine costs.

5. Private Health Insurance

Your visits to providers such as registered psychologists and clinical psychologists for individual, couple, family and/or group consultations may be covered by private health insurers. Please refer to your policy for information.