SouthEast Primary HealthCare Network

Better Access to Mental Health Care

The Australian government has introduced the Better Access to Psychologists, psychiatrists and GPs through the Medical Benefits Schedule (MBS) program. Medicare services provide community access and funding to a range of mental health services and promote multidisciplinary team approach to mental health care within the primary health care sector.

Access

A person with mental disorder is eligible to access mental health services including depression, anxiety, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic distress disorder, bipolar disorders and drug use and alcohol use disorders.

Process

Completion GP Mental Health Care Plan (2710)

The GP will assist the person to develop a plan for treatment and nominate the health professional for referral to receive possible 12 individual consultations in one calendar year with a psychologist or other mental health professional and up to 12 group sessions under Medicare.

Completion GP Mental Health Care Plan Review (2712)

GP will review the person’s progress after each block of six (6) sessions with psychologist using the Mental Health Care Plan as a guide to determine appropriate treatment options.

Complete GP Mental Health Care Consultation (2713)

A GP can now provide long consultation under Medicare to support a person with a mental disorder.

Document Title	Download PDF
2712 - GP Mental Health Care Plan Review Form The review item is a key component for assessing and managing the patient's progress once a GP Mental Health Care Plan has been prepared, along with ongoing management through the GP Mental Health Care Consultation item and/or standard consultation items. A patient's GP Mental Health Care Plan should be reviewed at least once.
GP Mental Health Care Plan Form - 2710 A rebate can be claimed once the GP has undertaken an assessment and prepared a GP Mental Health Care Plan by completing the steps from the Assessment to the point where patients do not require a new plan after their initial plan has been prepared and meeting the relevant requirements listed under Additional Claiming information.

Mental Health and Well Being

The website of the Mental Health and Special Programs Branch Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health and Ageing.

Mental Health Association (QLD)

Mental health information and fact sheets, advocacy, health promotion, ethnic mental health Website provides links to: Schizophrenic Fellowship, ARAFMI, Mental Health & Wellbeing, National Rural Alliance, Qld Health, Beyond Blue, DepressioNet, Eating Disorders Assoc (Qld), The Healing Centre, Qld Transcultural Mental Health Centre, Head Room - Family Mental Health, Here for Life - Suicide Prevention, Griffith Uni Support for Self Harm, Self Harm Alliance, Infoxchange Service Seeker (Qld), Anxiety Network Australia, Social Anxiety Australia and Chryantheine - Ezine for Multiples.

Mental Health Council of Australia (MHCA)

is the independent, national representative network of organisations and individuals committed to achieving better mental health for everyone. 33 Member Organisations (including ARAFMI, AICAFMHA, Australian Mental Health Consumer Network, Carers Australia, GROW, Lifeline Australia, Mental Illness Education Australia and SANE), beyondblue, MindMatters, Bluepages, Centre for Mental Health Research (ANU), MindBodyLife and Moodgym.

Beyondblue

The National Depression Initiative. The organisation is devoted to increasing awareness and understanding of depression in the community.

Mental Health

Better Outcomes

Better Access