FAQs

Private Health

We recommend that if you have private health insurance that you contact your provider to see if you are covered under speech pathology services to claim.

Item numbers are as follows and depend on length of consultation:

Initial consultation: Item 310 to 330

Subsequent consultation: Item 340 to 360

Group session: Item 370 to 390

NDIS

The National Disability Insurance Scheme is a scheme of the Australian Government that funds costs associated with disability.

Speech Bubble is not an NDIS registered provider, however we are able to provide service to participants that are self-managed or plan-managed.

If you are unsure and you or your child are a person with a disability, and you meet the requirements, you can become a participant in the scheme.

Medicare

The Chronic Disease Management (formerly Enhanced Primary Care or EPC) — GP services on the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) enable GPs to plan and coordinate the health care of patients with chronic or terminal medical conditions, including patients with these conditions who require multidisciplinary, team-based care from a GP and at least two other health or care providers, which includes us a speech pathologist.

This will entitle you to 5 subsidised sessions per calendar year. Medicare will provide a rebate of $61.80 per session used. Please note there is a gap fee.

From 1 March 2026, children under 25 with specific speech conditions (stuttering, speech sound disorders, cleft conditions) can access Medicare rebates for up to 8 assessment and 20 treatment sessions (in blocks of 10) via the M10 pathway. This provides an $87.25 rebate per session, separate from the5-session Chronic Disease Management Plan. 

Speech Pathology Australia +6

Key Details for the 10-Session (M10) Pathway:

Eligibility: Children and young people under 25 years old.

Conditions Covered: Stuttering, speech sound disorders (e.g., articulation, phonological, apraxia), and cleft lip/palate.

Rebate Amount: $87.25 per session.

Maximum Sessions: Up to 8 assessment sessions and 20 treatment sessions total per lifetime.

Referral Needed: A referral from a GP, pediatrician, or specialist is required.

Structure: Treatment sessions are typically provided in blocks of 10. A new referral is required after the first 4 assessments and first 10 treatment sessions.

Availability: These sessions are in addition to the 5 annual sessions allowed under a GP Chronic Disease Management Plan (formerly EPC). 

Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing +9

How to Access:

See your GP or Pediatrician: Request a referral for the specific M10 speech pathology items for stuttering, speech sound disorders, or cleft conditions.

Find an Eligible Speech Pathologist: Ensure the speech pathologist is registered to provide these services.

Claiming: The rebate can be claimed for both assessment and treatment sessions.