Medicare Mental Health Care Plan

Medicare Mental Health Care Plan

You can now access 10-20 sessions of psychological treatment under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative through Medicare. These sessions can only be conducted by a registered and approved psychologist with Medicare. Only a few evidence-based therapies are approved under the Mental Health Care Plan, these include psycho-education, cognitive behavioural therapy and interpersonal therapy. However, other evidence-based therapies might also be approved if its purpose is considered to be clinically relevant.

 Receiving psychological treatment under Medicare

To access mental health treatment under Medicare, you must be referred by a GP, a psychiatrist or a paediatrician. The referring practitioner must prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan before referring you to a psychologist.

 Medicare Psychologist

Under this scheme, only psychologist who are registered with Medicare and have a Medicare Provider Number can deliver the service.

 Medicare Provider Number

In Australia, a Medicare provider number is issued by Medicare Australia to practitioners who are eligible to provide services under a particular initiative for which a Medicare rebate can be claimed. The practitioner must use this number on any invoice provided to a patient/ client seen under Medicare.  

 How many sessions am I entitled to under the Better Health Mental Health Care Plan?

Under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative, eligible people can receive up to 10 individual sessions in a calendar year (1 January to 31 December) however, due to COVID-19, this number has increased to 20 individual sessions per calendar year.

Eligible people can also access up to 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year, however, such services must be referred by a doctor.

 After your initial Psychological Assessment, your referring doctor will assess your progress then after the first 6 sessions will reassess you and determine whether further sessions are needed.

After you have reached the maximum number of allowable sessions for the calendar year, you will not be eligible for any further Medicare rebates for treatment you receive from a psychologist until the new calendar year.