Private health fund rebates
Private health fund rebates for counsellors: HICAPS vs client self-claim
There's no government scheme behind private health fund rebates for counselling — it's entirely down to each fund's own recognition of your registration. Here's what that actually requires, and the two different ways clients can claim.
The registration bar
Clinical Registration specifically, not just membership
For counsellors, health fund recognition generally means PACFA or ACA Clinical Registration specifically — a higher bar than standard membership, and one each fund sets for itself rather than a shared industry standard. Funds that have recognised PACFA Clinical Registrants include Medibank, Bupa, GMHBA, HCF, Westfund, TUH, Doctors' Health Fund, Teachers Health (which also requires a separate ARHG registration), HBF, nib, Phoenix Health and Defence Health — not every major fund, and the list changes, so confirm directly with each fund rather than treating any list (including this one) as current.
Two claiming models
HICAPS on-the-spot, or client self-claim
The client taps their health fund card, the rebate applies instantly, and they only pay the gap. This needs a HICAPS terminal/merchant relationship, plus a separate provider number issued by each individual health fund — no single number covers every fund. HICAPS registration itself requires PACFA/ACA (or AHPRA) membership as a precondition.
The client pays your full fee, then claims their own rebate from an invoice or receipt (item number, provider number, registration details) via their fund's app. This is the client claiming from their own health fund — it doesn't need anything from your practice software's billing feature, just a normal invoice with the right detail on it.
What Zenvia supports today
The self-claim path, not HICAPS real-time claiming
Zenvia's standard client invoicing covers the self-claim path — your registration and session detail on the invoice, ready for the client to submit to their fund. HICAPS real-time claiming is a separate integration (a terminal and merchant relationship with HICAPS directly) that Zenvia doesn't have today.
Invoice clients through Zenvia
Clear, itemised invoices your clients can claim from directly.
Billing another funder? See Medicare, NDIS, EAP, workers compensation, Victims Services NSW, Victoria's FAS, or DVA and Open Arms. Not sure which registration you need? See PACFA vs ACA vs AHPRA.