Referrals to psychiatrists

A referral to a psychiatrist is straightforward. If your GP or other medical practitioner believes you need to see a psychiatrist, he or she can write to the psychiatrist and request that you be seen for assessment and/or treatment. This letter must be produced before or on the day of consultation if you want to claim a Medicare rebate. A referral from a GP must be renewed every 12 months and a referral from a medical specialist must be renewed every 3 months. For people who require long term psychiatric care, the referring doctor can request that the psychiatrist see you indefinitely. An “indefinite” referral will last for as long as you continue to see the psychiatrist.