Assignment of Benefit — Remote Therapy

📋

What Is the Assignment of Benefit?

🏥

A Medicare Requirement

The Assignment of Benefit (AOB) is a formal authorisation required by Medicare. It allows us to receive your rebate directly and bulk bill your session at no cost to you.

⏱️

Required Each Session

Your psychologist will ask for your verbal consent at the end of every session. It takes just a moment — you simply say yes, and your therapist notes it on your invoice.

🔒

Safe & Secure

Your verbal consent is recorded on your invoice by your psychologist and is handled in line with Medicare requirements and Australian privacy law.

🗣️

How It Works

1

Your psychologist asks at the end of the session

At the close of each appointment, your psychologist will ask whether you consent to Remote Therapy claiming your Medicare rebate on your behalf. This is a standard requirement for bulk billing.

2

You give verbal consent

Simply say yes to confirm. Your verbal agreement is all that's required — there's nothing to sign, no SMS to open, and no form to complete.

🗣️ Just say yes

3

Your psychologist notes it on your invoice

Your psychologist records your verbal consent directly on your session invoice. This satisfies Medicare's Assignment of Benefit requirement and allows us to process your bulk billing claim.

4

If someone else is giving consent on your behalf

If a parent, carer, or authorised representative is giving consent on behalf of the client (e.g. for a child or a person who lacks capacity), they may provide verbal consent instead, and this will be noted on the invoice accordingly.

✅

What Happens After You Consent

✓

We receive your Medicare rebate directly after each session

✓

Your session is bulk billed — no out-of-pocket cost to you

✓

No need to lodge Medicare claims yourself

✓

Your psychologist will ask for consent at the end of each session — the same simple process every time

🗓

At the End of Each Session

🗣️

Your psychologist asks for consent

As your session wraps up, your psychologist will ask whether you consent to Remote Therapy claiming your Medicare rebate on your behalf.

✅

You say yes

Simply give your verbal agreement. No forms, no links, no SMS — just a quick confirmation that takes a moment.

🎉

We handle the rest

Your psychologist notes your consent on the invoice and we process your Medicare bulk billing claim. Nothing else is required from you.

💬

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I forget or don't get a chance to give consent? ▼

We need your verbal consent in order to process your Medicare rebate for that session. If it was missed, please contact us at admin@remotetherapy.com.au and we'll advise you on next steps.

Do I need to do this every session? ▼

Yes. Your verbal consent needs to be given at the end of each session. Your psychologist will ask you each time — it only takes a moment.

Is verbal consent really enough? ▼

Yes. Medicare now accepts verbal consent for the Assignment of Benefit in telehealth settings. Your psychologist notes your consent on your invoice, which satisfies Medicare's requirements and allows us to process your bulk billing claim.

Can a parent or carer give consent on behalf of a client? ▼

Yes. If a parent, carer, or authorised representative is acting on behalf of the client — for example, for a child or a person who lacks capacity — they may give verbal consent instead. Your psychologist will note this on the invoice.

What does "assigning benefit" actually mean? ▼

Under Medicare, the "benefit" is the rebate you're entitled to receive for your session. By assigning it to us, you authorise Medicare to pay that rebate directly to our practice instead of to you. This is what makes bulk billing possible — your session is fully covered at no cost to you.