Psychologists & Mental Health Professionals

The Mental Health Treatment Plan

To access Medicare-rebated psychology sessions, your GP first prepares a Mental Health Treatment Plan, which involves an assessment of your situation and a documented plan of care. This is what unlocks the Better Access initiative: up to 10 individual and 10 group Medicare-rebated therapy sessions per calendar year with an eligible psychologist, accredited social worker or occupational therapist, for someone assessed with a diagnosable mental health condition. Your GP reviews the plan periodically as sessions progress.

Psychiatrists vs. psychologists

A psychiatrist is a medical doctor with specialist training who can diagnose, prescribe and adjust medication, and manage more complex or severe presentations — typically seen with a GP referral, similar to any other specialist. A psychologist does not prescribe; the work is talking therapy, structured around a specific approach suited to what you’re working through. Many people see a GP and a psychologist without ever needing a psychiatrist; others are managed by all three together.

Cost and the gap

Even with a Mental Health Treatment Plan, most psychologists charge above the Medicare rebate, and the difference — the gap — is paid by the patient. Gap fees vary considerably between practitioners and areas. Some psychologists bulk bill in full, particularly for concession card holders; many do not. Ask about the fee and expected rebate before your first session, since this is one area where cost differences between providers are often large.

Getting started

Book a longer appointment with your GP specifically to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan — it is not something that fits into a brief standard consultation. From there, your GP can recommend a psychologist, or you can search independently and ask your GP to write the referral to a specific person. Waiting lists for psychologists can be long in some areas, so it is worth asking about availability before committing to a plan with a particular practitioner.

Questions worth asking

• Do you bulk bill, and is that only for concession card holders?
• What approach or therapy style do you use?
• How soon can I get an appointment?
• Do you offer telehealth sessions?
• Will you communicate with my GP about my progress?