Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative

On 1 November 2006, the Australian Government Department of Health & Ageing introduced mental health MBS items and services that promote a team approach to mental health care.

 

These 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 psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and other allied mental health professionals to increase access to mental health services for patients.

 

§         All GPs (VR and non VR), consultant psychiatrists and consultant paediatricians can refer their patients under the Better Access program to allied mental health professionals (clinical psychologists, generalist psychologists, social workers, occupational therapists) and GP providers of Focussed Psychological Strategies (FPS) for psychological treatments. These professionals must be registered with Medicare Australia via their peak bodies to enable Medicare rebates for providing these services on appropriate referral. 

 

§         By January 2010, GPs must have completed Mental Health Skills Training (previously called “Level One”) in order to continue claiming item 2710. For those GPs who have not completed training, item 2702 will be released in January 2010 which can be claimed instead of item 2710. 

 

§         All consultations conducted as part of the GP Mental Health Treatment items must be rendered by the GP and include a personal attendance with the patient. 

 

§         A specialist mental health nurse, other allied health practitioner or Aboriginal Health Worker with appropriate mental health qualifications and training may provide general assistance to GPs in provision of mental health care. 

 

§         A GP should generally only provide GP Mental Health Treatment items where they reasonably expect that they will be the patient’s ‘usual GP’ and have an ongoing role in the management of the patient and their mental health. 

 

§         Chronic Disease Management (CDM) items will continue to be available for patients with chronic medical conditions, including patients needing multidisciplinary care. If the patient has a mental health problem only, a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan is preferable. Where a patient has a mental disorder as well as significant co-morbidities and complex needs requiring team-based care, the GP is able to use both the CDM items and the GP mental health treatment items.

 
This information is taken from material prepared by GPpartners, Queensland.

 

For more information...
Please refer to Department of Health and Ageing Fact Sheet 1
Please refer to Department of Health and Ageing Fact Sheet 2