ADHD Assessment & Care
If you have previously been diagnosed by a psychiatrist, child psychiatrist, paediatrician, or psychologist and are looking to change your treatment team, AOA Clinic can support a smooth transition of care - without the need to repeat the full assessment process.
Treatment Options
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Your local GP can take over your ADHD medication management if they are willing and eligible to prescribe.
What happens:
Discharge to your GP after your assessment.
Psychiatrist summary letter sent to your GP within 14 days outlining diagnosis and recommendations.
Your GP applies for the required permit to prescribe ADHD medication.
Once approved, your GP provides prescriptions and adjusts the dose as needed (if comfortable).
If your GP is unable or unwilling to prescribe:
You can choose to access care through AOA Clinic under Option B.***No prescription can be issued through this pathway.
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If your GP cannot prescribe or want you to be stable on the medication before taking over care, an AOA Clinic GP can manage your medication.
What happens:
AOA Clinic Psychiatrist initiates medication
Follow-up appointments with an AOA Clinic GP experienced in ADHD.
AOA Clinic GP applies for the prescribing permit on your behalf.
Prescriptions provided once the permit is approved.
Ongoing review appointments to find the ideal dose.
Cost per review: $236.68
If additional support is needed, a case conference with the psychiatrist may be arranged.
Cost: $446.70
Medicare rebate: $205.85
Transferring back to your GP:
You can move your care to your local GP once your medication is stable, following a case conference with the psychiatrist.
Option A FAQs
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No, the Option A pathway means that the AOA Clinic psychiatrist will send a letter to your local GP with the care plan recommendations which will include medication options. Your GP will need to be willing to use this letter to apply for a State permit (if applicable) and then initiate & prescribe the medication. It is worth checking this with your GP before your assessment.
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You will have two options;
To find another local GP who is willing to.
You can transfer to Option B. This will require an appointment with the AOA clinic GP so they can apply for the permit, and then following the care plan recommendations until you are stable on medication.
Once stable, you and the AOA clinic GP may continue to work together if appropriate, or discharge you to your local GP after a case conference.
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The best option is to see your local, prescribing GP. In the care plan letter, the psychiatrist outlines other options for medication.
If your GP isn’t comfortable trialling new medications - they can refer you back to the AOA clinic psychiatrist for review. A referral letter from your GP is required.
Following the review by AOA Clinic psychiatrist, two possible options emerge:
A prescription is issued and you must follow up with an AOA Clinic GP who monitors your response and makes changes to the medication until you are stable
OR
A letter is issued (no prescription), advising your GP on what to prescribe with no further follow up from AOA Clinic providers.
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Yes.
Same practice: another GP can usually (States may differ) continue prescribing under the existing permit.
Different practice: your old GP can provide a short letter to the AOA Clinic psychiatrist so an updated care plan can be issued (fee applies).
No GP letter: your new GP can refer you for a Medicare 291/293 review (fee applies) with the AOA Clinic psychiatrist to receive an updated care plan.
This may not apply to QLD GPs as they no longer require permits. Our team can help if you’re unsure.
Option B FAQs
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In your review with the AOA Clinic GP, you can let them know you are wanting to be discharged to your local GP. If your medication is assessed as stable (as per Option B requirements), they will then organise a case conference with the AOA Clinic Psychiatrist & Care Coordinator.
At this case conference, the Psychiatrist will receive a handover from the AOA Clinic GP, he will then update the care plan to send to your local GP.
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Not if you are wanting your care to be handed over to your local GP.
The psychiatrist cannot provide a letter to your local GP without first reviewing the original care plan and the treatment with the AOA clinic GP .
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No - scripts can only be issued during review appointments.
It is the patient’s responsibility to ensure the review appointment is made with enough time to ensure they don’t run out of medication.
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Yes.
Same practice: another GP can usually (States may differ) continue prescribing under the existing permit.
Different practice: your old GP can provide a short letter to the AOA Clinic psychiatrist so an updated care plan can be issued (fee applies).
No GP letter: your new GP can refer you for a Medicare 291/293 review (fee applies) with the AOA Clinic psychiatrist to receive an updated care plan.
This may not apply to QLD GPs as they no longer require permits. Our team can help if you’re unsure.
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No, once you have been discharged, scripts cannot be issued.
For a script to be issued, you will need to be referred by your GP to see the psychiatrist with the intention of joining option B to be treated by AOA Clinic GP.