Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS

GP Mental Health Care Medicare Items

Information on GP Mental Health Care items

These items are part of the Better access to psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule (Better Access) program which forms part of the Australian Government's component of the Council of Australian Governments' National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006-2011.

The GP Mental Health Care items provide a structured framework for GPs to undertake early intervention, assessment and management of patients with mental disorders, as well as providing referral pathways to clinical psychologist and allied mental health service providers.

For information on the GP Mental Health Care items, please click on the links below:
1. Medicare Benefits Schedule item descriptors - GP Mental Health Care items (including fee and rebate information). GPs should refer to this information before providing GP Mental Health Care services.

2. Medicare Benefits Schedule explanatory notes - GP Mental Health Care items GPs should refer to this information before providing GP Mental Health Care services.

3. Medicare GP Mental Health Care Items - Fact Sheet (Overview of the GP Mental Health Care Medicare Items)

4. Questions and Answers - GP Mental Health Care Items, as at November 2007.
Information in the Q & A document has been updated. Updated information includes:
- New MBS fee and rebate amounts
- What if a patient has already had a GP Mental Health Care Plan provided?
- What items count towards a patient's calendar year entitlement for allied mental health services?
- What information should be included in the referral?

5. GP Mental Health Care Plan - Sample Form (RTF 84 KB)
GP Mental Health Care Plan - Sample Form (PDF 31 KB)
If you have difficulties accessing the above files, please contact mbd.web@health.gov.au

This sample form is provided as an optional tool to assist GPs in the patient assessment and preparation of the GP Mental Health Care Plan. GPs may download this form and modify it for their own needs.

It is not mandatory to use a specific form for a GP Mental Health Care Plan; however, in preparing a GP Mental Health Care Plan, GPs must ensure they have met the Medicare requirements for the item. This includes documenting the required information in the patient’s plan (see A.40.8 - A.40.17 of the Explanatory Notes of the MBS Book).

Comments on the form are welcome and can be sent to epc.items@health.gov.au