The Mental Health Treatment Plan, explained
A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a plan a GP or other eligible practitioner prepares with a patient who has a diagnosed mental health condition. It is the gateway to Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions under the Better Access initiative. The plan sets goals and treatment options and allows referral to a psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist.
Department of Health and Aged Care, Better Access initiative
MBS Online, Better Access items
What the plan is
The Mental Health Treatment Plan, sometimes called a mental health care plan, is prepared by a GP, psychiatrist, paediatrician or other eligible referrer. It records the patient's diagnosis, needs and goals, and the agreed treatment approach. Preparing it is itself a Medicare item, and it is what makes the patient eligible to claim rebates on Better Access sessions.
What it unlocks
With a plan and referral, the patient can access up to 10 individual Medicare-subsidised sessions per calendar year, plus up to 10 group sessions. The referral releases an initial course of up to 6 sessions. The patient then returns to the referrer for a review before any further sessions are referred, up to the annual limit of 10 individual sessions.
Reviews and renewals
The referring practitioner reviews progress and can refer a subsequent course if needed. The plan does not have a fixed annual expiry, but the session count resets each calendar year on 1 January. A patient usually does not need a brand new plan for each course; a review by the referrer is generally enough to continue treatment.
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