More Medicare Support for Kids Needing Speech Therapy
27 Feb 2026
Under the expanded Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) access, children and young people with severe speech and language disorders can now receive rebates for up to eight assessments and 20 treatment sessions with allied health professionals, including speech pathologists.
Until now, these patients could only claim five chronic condition management sessions each year across all allied health services under the MBS. Many families and doctors said this was not enough for children who need intensive and ongoing therapy.
The Federal Government is investing $74.9 million into the change. It is aimed at helping children and young people under 25 with serious speech and language conditions such as stuttering, speech sound disorders, and cleft lip and cleft palate.
The Government estimates more than 385,000 young Australians could benefit from the expanded access to speech pathology services.
Speech Pathology Australia President Kathryn McKinley said the extra support will improve fairness, ease financial pressure on families, and help children achieve better long-term outcomes.
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners President Dr Michael Wright also welcomed the move. He said five sessions were often not enough for children who need intensive speech therapy, and described the change as a sensible step that will help kids get care at the right time.
Patients will be able to access the new services through a referral from their GP, specialist, or consultant physician.
The update comes on top of existing funding that supports treatment costs for people with cleft and craniofacial conditions needing major dental and skeletal care.
Federal Health and Ageing Minister Mark Butler said speech pathology can make a major difference in a child’s life and that the funding will help more children and young adults get a strong start.
https://www1.racgp.org.au/
Source: newsGP