What is the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medical Benefits Schedule Initiative?
The Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medical Benefits Schedule initiative provides better access to mental health care by general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychologists and appropriately trained social workers and occupational therapists. This initiative forms part of the Australian Government's Mental Health Reform Package and contribution to the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) National Action Plan on Mental Health 2006 - 2011.
Figures released on Medicare subsidised primary care mental health services are available here:
Utilisation tables (PDF 210 KB)
Fact sheet (PDF 30 KB)
Why is this important?
The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that people who need mental health services can access high quality care that is appropriate to their needs. The Better Access initiative encourages a team-based, multidisciplinary approach to mental health care in the community with psychologists working alongside general practitioners, psychiatrists and other allied mental health professionals.
Who benefits?
Individuals with a clinically diagnosed mental disorder who would benefit from a structured approach to the management of their mental care needs, using the short to medium term treatment available under the Better Access initiative.
What does the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medical Benefits Schedule initiative deliver?
The Better Access initiative increases community access to mental health care by enabling general practitioners to provide assessment, early intervention and management of individuals with mental disorders at the practice level as part of a General Practitioner Mental Health Care Plan. The initiative also strengthens referral pathways and collaborative care by supporting general practitioners, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists in a team-based approach.
How will it work?
General practitioner items are available to provide a structured framework for general practitioners to undertake assessment and management of patients with mental disorders, as part of a General Practitioner Mental Health Care Plan, and continuing management using the General Practitioners Mental Health consultation item.
Items are available for up to 12 individual and 12 group allied mental health services per calendar year, to patients with an assessed mental disorder who are referred by:
a medical practitioner managing the patient under a General Practitioner Mental Health Care Plan or under a psychiatrist assessment and management plan; or
a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
Allied mental health services under this initiative include psychological therapy provided by eligible clinical psychologists, and Focussed Psychological Services provided by eligible psychologists, general practitioners, social workers and occupational therapists.
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What funding is the Australian Government committing?
Funding of $753.8 million has been committed to provide better access to psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners through Medicare so that mental disorders could be addressed more effectively and new assistance provided to people with mental disorders.
When did Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the Medicare Benefits Schedule start?
The Better Access initiative commenced on 1 November 2006. Under the initiative Medicare rebates are available for:
general practitioners to provide assessment, early intervention and management of patients with mental disorders, as part of a General Practitioner Mental Health Care Plan;
appropriately trained allied mental health professionals to provide psychological therapy or focussed psychological strategies services; and
psychiatrists to see new patients for an initial consultation.
GP Mental Health Skills Training
The 2009 -10 Budget included changes to the Better Access initiative. From 1 January 2010, a new Medicare item will be introduced for general practitioners who have not undertaken accredited Mental Health Skills Training. The training requirements are outlined in the Fact Sheets below
Fact Sheet for GPs number 1 - mental health skills training requirements (Word 318 KB)
Fact sheet for GPs number 2 - Implementation of Mental Health Skills Training for General Practitioners: 2009-10 Budget measure - New Medicare item (Word 324 KB)
Further information
More detailed information on this initiative is available at http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-ba or by calling Medicare Australia on 132 150 (for providers) or 132 011 (for patients).Page currency, Latest update: 17 March, 2009