ADHD Assessment Cost in Australia (2026 Guide)
See the full ADHD assessment pathway at Medivik, with transparent fees, Medicare rebates, and realistic first-year cost estimates.
Cost Summary: A paediatric ADHD assessment at Medivik in Bella Vista, Sydney, costs between $1,366 and $1,814 out-of-pocket in the first year, after Medicare rebates. That covers five to seven appointments billed under MBS items 132, 133 and 116. Because Medicare rebates are set nationally and apply identically at every Australian practice, the only thing that changes your out-of-pocket cost is the fee each practice charges above the rebate.
Fee Table
Each paediatric consultation is billed under a Medicare item number. After your appointment, we process the Medicare claim on your behalf, and the rebate is returned to your nominated bank account, typically within 1 to 3 business days. The difference between our fee and the Medicare rebate is your out-of-pocket cost.
| MBS Item | Consultation Type | Our Fee | Medicare Rebate | You Pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 132 |
Complex consultation A comprehensive assessment covering developmental, medical, and family history, physical examination, clinical observation, and a detailed treatment and management plan. For new patients, this is the first appointment. For existing patients, this is the comprehensive annual review. Billed once per 12-month period. |
$650.00 | $265.60 | $384.40 |
| 133 |
Complex review consultation A follow-up review covering investigation results, questionnaire outcomes, treatment response, and revisions to the management plan. This is a standard part of the assessment and management cycle and is typically billed twice within a 12-month period. The fee for each review may vary depending on the complexity of the presentation and the length of the consultation. |
$400.00 | $133.00 | $267.00 |
| 135 |
Neurodevelopmental Disorder (NDD) diagnosis and treatment plan The formal diagnostic assessment for a complex neurodevelopmental disorder such as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Confirms the diagnosis and creates the treatment plan. Once per lifetime. This item unlocks Medicare-funded allied health treatment sessions. |
$650.00 | $265.60 | $384.40 |
| 116 |
Standard follow-up A regular follow-up for ongoing management: medication reviews, progress checks, and monitoring. The most common item once your child is established with the paediatrician. |
$300.00 | $76.00 | $224.00 |
ADHD Assessment Pathway
An ADHD assessment typically involves 5 to 7 appointments across the first year, covering the assessment itself, diagnosis, and medication stabilisation where applicable.
Step 1: GP Referral
A GP referral to a paediatrician is required before the first appointment and is necessary for Medicare rebates to apply. The referral is valid for 12 months. If your child has had any previous assessments, school reports, or allied health involvement, provide these to the GP so they can accompany the referral. This background gives the paediatrician a more complete clinical picture before the first consultation and can help avoid delays in the assessment process.
Cost: Standard GP Fee
Step 2: Initial Consultation (Item 132)
The paediatrician conducts a comprehensive assessment covering birth history, developmental milestones, schooling, social functioning, and family background, along with a physical examination and clinical observation. Children referred for ADHD concerns commonly present with co-occurring issues such as anxiety, sleep difficulties, or learning challenges, which are assessed concurrently. The paediatrician will typically provide parent and teacher rating scales (such as Conners or Vanderbilt questionnaires) and may order blood tests or hearing and vision screening.
Our fee: $650.00
Medicare rebate: $265.60
You pay: $384.40
Step 3: First Review (Item 133)
Typically 4 to 6 weeks after the initial consultation, the paediatrician reviews completed questionnaire scores, school feedback, and any test results. Where the clinical picture is clear and the rating scales from home and school are consistent, the paediatrician may confirm the ADHD diagnosis at this visit and begin discussing treatment options. In more complex presentations, particularly where there are overlapping conditions or conflicting information between settings, a second review is needed before the diagnosis is finalised.
Our fee: $400.00
Medicare rebate: $133.00
You pay: $267.00
Step 4: Second Review and Treatment Planning (Item 133)
This appointment consolidates the clinical findings from the assessment period. For children whose diagnosis was confirmed at Step 3, this review focuses on treatment planning: behavioural strategies, school accommodations, and whether medication is appropriate. For children still in the diagnostic phase, this is where the paediatrician confirms the diagnosis and develops the management plan. Both item 133 consultations are a standard part of the assessment and management cycle.
Our fee: $400.00
Medicare rebate: $133.00
You pay: $267.00
Step 5: Medication Follow-ups (Item 116, multiple visits)
If your child starts medication, they will need several follow-up appointments to find the right dose and formulation. This typically means monthly visits for 2 to 4 months to monitor response, check for side effects, and make dose adjustments based on feedback from both home and school. Once a stable and effective dose is reached, follow-up visits are spaced out to every 3 to 6 months.
Our fee: $300.00 per visit
Medicare rebate: $$76.00
You pay: $224.00 per visit (x 2 to 4 visits)
ADHD Assessment Cost: First-Year Cost Summary
| Phase | Item | Visits | You Pay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial assessment | 132 | 1 | $384.40 |
| Complex reviews | 133 | 2 | $534.00 |
| Medication follow-ups | 116 | 2 to 4 | $448.00 to $896.00 |
| Year 1 Total | 5 to 7 | $1,366.40 to $1,814.40 |
$1,366 to $1,814
Total out-of-pocket (Year 1)
Assessment + medication stabilisation
After an ADHD Diagnosis
A confirmed diagnosis opens access to a range of support, funding, and treatment pathways. What is available depends on the diagnosis.
Medication
Medication is part of the standard treatment approach for most children diagnosed with moderate to severe ADHD. These are subsidised under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS).
As of 1 January 2026, general patients pay $25.00 per script. Concession card holders pay $7.70 per script (frozen at this rate until 2030). Scripts are typically issued monthly. The paediatrician manages the prescribing process.
School Support
The paediatrician can provide letters and reports for your child’s school with recommendations for classroom adjustments, exam provisions, integration aide funding applications, and behaviour support plans.
Psychology
Your GP can create a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which provides access to up to 10 Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions per calendar year. This is commonly used for cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), anxiety management, or social skills development alongside ADHD management.
NDIS
ADHD alone is not included in the NDIA’s List A conditions, meaning it does not meet access criteria on its own. For children whose ADHD is accompanied by another condition that significantly impacts daily functioning, such as autism or intellectual disability, an NDIS application may be appropriate. The NDIS assesses eligibility based on functional impact across areas like communication, self-care, social interaction, and learning. Your paediatrician can advise whether an NDIS application is worth pursuing based on your child’s individual circumstances.
Ongoing Annual Costs
After the initial assessment phase, ongoing paediatric management follows a predictable annual pattern. The following reflects what most families should expect each year.
| Service | Frequency | You Pay (Annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Complex annual review (item 132) | 1 per year | $384.40 |
| Complex reviews (item 133) | 2 per year | $534.00 |
| Standard follow-ups (item 116) | 1 to 2 per year | $224.00 to $448.00 |
| ADHD medication (PBS-subsidised) | Monthly scripts | $92.40 to $300.00 |
| ADHD Management Annual Total | 4 to 5 visits + medication | $1,234.80 to $1,666.40 |
ADHD medication costs are included in the ADHD annual total above. PBS co-payment rates and medication details are covered here. You can track your PBS spending through the Medicare app.
Medicare Safety Nets
Medicare tracks your family’s total out-of-pocket medical costs across the calendar year. Once those costs reach a certain threshold, Medicare increases your rebates for the remainder of that year. This applies to all out-of-hospital Medicare services, not just paediatric visits.
There are two thresholds. Once you cross the first, your rebate increases by a small amount. Once you cross the second, Medicare covers a much larger share of your costs.
Original Medicare Safety Net
2026 threshold: $594.40 in total gap costs per family per calendar year
Once crossed, your Medicare rebate on all out-of-hospital services increases slightly for the rest of the year. The increase is modest per visit. If you are going through an ADHD or autism assessment, your family will likely cross this threshold within the first 2 to 3 paediatrician appointments.
Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN)
This is where the larger savings apply. Once your family’s total out-of-pocket costs pass the EMSN threshold, Medicare covers an additional 80% of your gap on future services for the rest of the calendar year.
2026 EMSN thresholds:
- $861.20 for families holding a Commonwealth concession card or receiving Family Tax Benefit Part A
- $2,699.10 for all other families
The difference this makes to your out-of-pocket costs is significant:
Registering Your Family
For the safety net to work effectively, you need to register your family group so that everyone’s gap costs count toward the same threshold. Without this, each family member is tracked separately and you may not reach the threshold.
Log into myGov, go to Medicare, and register your family under the Safety Net section. Add your partner and dependent children. Alternatively, call Services Australia on 132 011. Once registered, all gap costs across your family are tracked automatically.
Tracking Your Progress
Open the Medicare app or log into myGov to check how close your family is to the threshold at any point during the year. If you are approaching the threshold, it may be worth scheduling upcoming appointments within the same calendar year rather than deferring to January, so the safety net benefit applies to those visits.
Private Health Insurance
Some private health funds offer rebates on specialist consultations and allied health under their extras cover. It is worth checking your policy, particularly for allied health visits such as speech pathology or occupational therapy. You cannot claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same service, but extras cover may assist with costs that Medicare does not cover.