Medibank expands innovative psychotherapy program for PTSD and TRD to New South Wales, Victoria and ACT

Medibank has expanded its psychotherapy program for Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and Treatment Resistant Depression (TRD) to New South Wales, Victoria and ACT as part of its commitment to improve mental health access and affordability for customers.

Last year, Medibank was the first private health insurer to launch a psychotherapy program for PTSD and TRD, starting in Perth with a partnership with Perth Clinic and Emyria’s wholly-owned subsidiary, Empax Centre, later followed by Avive Clinic in Brisbane.

Eligible Medibank customers will now be able to access the world-leading psychotherapy treatment at Avive Health’s Avive Clinic Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and iMH hospitals in Sydney and Canberra.

Medibank's Chief Medical Officer and practising psychiatrist Dr Andrew Wilson said this demonstrates Medibank’s ongoing commitment to improve mental health care affordability and access for customers.

“The rate of mental ill-health is growing at an alarming rate in Australia. Over the past decade, Medibank and ahm have spent around $2 billion towards our customers’ mental health hospital admissions,” Dr Wilson said.

“Our own claims data shows that around half of customers with acute mental health issues will readmit to hospital within the first 12 months, and in many cases it’s multiple readmissions over the course of their life.

“For many people, the current system is not working for them and is creating more problems for our stretched health system. Unless treated effectively, mental ill-health is a major cause of premature death and disability.

“We’re really proud to be expanding this program so that more customers who are living with PTSD and TRD can access this treatment. It is quite costly and would be financially out-of-reach for most people, so we are improving access by funding this innovative model of mental health care.

“Initial patient feedback on the treatment is showing promising signs. I encourage any of our customers with PTSD or TRD to speak to their health care professional about all types of treatment that may be clinically appropriate for them.”

Medibank is continuing to explore opportunities with providers in other states and territories so the treatment can become more widely available for customers.

In March last year, Medibank committed $50 million to improve mental health affordability and access for customers.