Helping Children with Autism

From 1 July 2008, six Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) items are available to eligible allied health professionals for the diagnosis and treatment of children with pervasive developmental disorders. These items are part of the Australian Government’s $190 million Helping Children with Autism package.

Four MBS services in total will be available for eligible allied health professionals to collaborate with the referring practitioner in the diagnosis of a child (aged under 13 years) and/or the development of a child’s PDD treatment and management plan.

A further twenty MBS services in total will also be available for eligible allied health professionals to provide treatment to a child (aged under 15 years and who was under 13 years at the time of receiving their PDD treatment and management plan) for their particular condition, consistent with the treatment and management plan prepared by the referring practitioner.

These items can be provided by Medicare registered general psychologists, speech pathologists and occupational therapists upon referral by a consultant psychiatrist or paediatrician.

For information on the allied health professional Medicare items for pervasive developmental disorders, please click on the links below:

1. Medicare Benefits Schedule Item Descriptors (PDF 65 KB) – allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs (including fee and rebate information). Allied health professionals should refer to this information before providing services under this initiative.
2. Medicare Benefits Schedule Explanatory Notes – a full explanation of the allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs. Allied health professionals should refer to this information before providing services under this initiative.
3. Overview of the allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs – fact sheet. Helping Children with Autism – Medicare Allied Health Professional Items for Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
4. Questions and Answers – allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs.

Further information on the allied health professional Medicare items for PDDs is available from Medicare Australia on 132 150 (for providers) or 132 011 (for patients), or by emailing epc.items@health.gov.au

Further information on the Helping Children with Autism program can be accessed through:

1. The Department of Health and Ageing’s main landing page for the Helping Children with Autism program which offers a comprehensive overview of the program.
2. The Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs’ webpage on the Helping Children with Autism program.



Program/Initiatives

• Helping Children with Autism

All Program/Initiatives

Publications

• Early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders: Guidelines for best practice
• A review of the research to identify the most effective models of practice in early intervention for children with autism spectrum disorders

All Publications

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