A Mental Health Treatment Plan, previously known as a Mental Health Care Plan, is a plan for people who have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, which helps them to access mental health services. 

There is a range of clinically diagnosable disorders that significantly impact a person’s emotions, thoughts, social skills and decision-making, that qualify you for a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

The Mental Health Treatment Plan is part of the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners initiative from the Medicare Benefits Schedule. The Better Access Scheme provides assistance to people living with mental health problems by allowing greater access to affordable mental healthcare. The initiative works to improve treatment and management for those with mild to moderate mental health conditions where short-term, evidence-based interventions are most likely to be useful. 

The Mental Health Treatment Plan identifies what type of health care you need, and communicates to practitioners or local mental health services involved in your care the goals you and your doctor are aiming to achieve. The referrals are valid for the number of sessions, known as a course of treatment, shown on the referral letter or note. The maximum number of sessions for the initial course of treatment is 6 sessions using a MHTP, with a maximum of 10 sessions within a calendar year. You will require a re-referral from the GP for each course of treatment.  Mental health referrals do not expire at the end of the year. If you have unused services on their referral at the end of the calendar year, you can use them the next year.

Better Access Services for Family and Carer Participation

In 2023, there were changes to the eligibility of claiming which recognise the important role family members and carers play in supporting individuals with mental illness. Involving family members and carers in treatment can benefit client outcomes and as such, eligible practitioners, including clinical psychologists and psychologists can deliver up to 2 Better Access services per calendar year using the clients Better Access Plan  to a person other than the client. These services can be provided to family members and/or carer where: 

• The patient has been referred for Better Access services (for allied health professionals delivering these services)
• the treating or referring practitioner determines it is clinically appropriate the patient consents for the service to be provided to the person as part of their treatment
•  the service is part of the patient’s treatment
•  the patient isn’t in attendance.

Any services delivered under this condition, still counts towards the primary clients calendar year allocation for individual services, under Better Access. 

If your GP advises that you do not qualify for a Mental Health Treatment Plan (which is uncommon), you may still be eligible for alternative support to see a Psychologist or Clinical Psychologist through a Chronic Disease Management Plan (previously known as an EPC). 

How to get a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

To organise an Mental Health Treatment Plan, you must have a mental health disorder diagnosis by your doctor. If you have been diagnosed, your doctor is able to prepare a treatment plan for you. This will involve a visit to your doctor, who will ask you a few questions and fill in the plan with you as you set some goals for treatment. When making this appointment, ask if a long appointment is required as sometimes a standard appointment does not provide sufficient time. 

Once the GP has completed this plan, it will be sent to the nominated Psychologist or Mental Health practitioners and you will have access to the rebates following your visits with them. 

How do I use my Mental Health Treatment Plan at Move for Better Health?

At Move for Better Health, you can use your Mental Health Treatment Plan to see a Clinical Psychologist from NLC Psychology. Your appointments can be either face to face at either our Malvern or Magill location, or alternatively, conducted via telehealth. 

To use your referral at the time of your appointment, our practice must have your referral on file. Ideally your referral should be sent to us prior to your appointment by the GP, however you can bring in a signed hard copy of the referral on the day if needed. You must also consent to us contacting your GP and medical team as your allied health practitioner must provide a written report to the referring medical practitioner after the last service on your initial referral and any re-referrals when using this treatment plan. 

At the time of billing, we will request payment in full, and then we will submit your claim to Medicare through our online claiming system. The rebate will be refunded into your nominated bank account within a short time frame (usually within 24 hours). 

The rebate you will receive for each visit under a Mental Health Treatment Plan referral is $141.85 with a Clinical Psychologist, or $96.65 for a Psychologist. If you have exceeded the Medicare Safety Net, the rebate is increased to a higher percentage of the total cost of the service (often 80% – 100% of the total cost, depending on the individual circumstances). 

Unfortunately you are not able to claim with both Medicare and Private Health Insurance for the same service. However when you have exhausted your allocated Medicare sessions, we can switch to using private health insurance – if you have cover for that allied health discipline – so that you still only need to pay the gap that’s leftover after the rebate has been paid. 

To find the exact costs and gaps involved with our services, please contact us to find out more. The costs depend on which type of allied health practitioner you need to see, the type of service you require, and whether you have any government concessions.