Frequently Asked Questions

Under the Australian Government’s Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, if you have a diagnosed mental health condition, Medicare rebates are available for psychological treatment by registered psychologists.

To access Medicare-rebated sessions, you will need a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), which will enable you to be referred to a psychologist. A MHTP is a plan for individuals with a mental health condition/s.

If eligible, your GP will need to create the MHTP. As such, the first step in seeking a MHTP is to Book an appointment with your GP. We would recommend making a double appointment or at the time of booking, advise the reception staff that you are scheduling the appointment for a MHTP. This is to help in ensuring that your GP has enough time to discuss your concerns and to determine if you are eligible for the plan.

Any GP in Australia can create a MHTP but it’s important that you feel comfortable with your GP so that you can share what has been occurring for you. If you don’t have a regular GP, it may be of benefit to contact a local GP clinic and enquire as to whether there is a GP available, who has an interest in mental health.

You don’t need a referral to see a psychologist, but you may be eligible for a rebate through Medicare if your GP refers you under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, Chronic Disease Management Plan or an Eating Disorders Treatment Plan.

As of the 1st of November 2023, the Medicare rebate for a 50-minute session with a Clinical Psychologist is $137.05 and for a Registered Psychologist the rebate is $93.35.

Alternatively, if you have private health insurance with psychology listed on your extras. you may be eligible to claim a rebate directly with your private health insurer.

Please note you cannot claim both Medicare and private health for a session.

A diagnosis of a mental health condition is required in order to access services under the Better Access Initiative. Your GP will usually make a provisional mental health diagnosis. Your psychologist will then conduct a more thorough assessment.

The Better Access initiative enables access to psychological treatment for the following mental health conditions:

• Alcohol use disorder
• Adjustment disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• Attention deficit disorder
• Bereavement disorder
• Bipolar disorder
• Chronic fatigue
• Conduct disorder
• Co-occurring anxiety and depression
• Depression
• Dissociative disorders
• Substance use disorders (excluding tobacco use disorder)
• Eating disorders
• Mental disorder, not otherwise specified
• Obsessive compulsive disorder
• Post traumatic stress disorder
• Psychotic disorders
• Schizophrenia
• Sexual disorders
• Sleep problems
• Unexplained physical complaints

No, you do not need a MHTP to see a psychologist. A MHTP enables you access to Medicare-rebates for psychology sessions. There are alternative funding options for psychological sessions that may be relevant for you, including DVA, TAC, Workcover and NDIS. Alternatively, you may elect to see a psychologist privately, in which you would pay the session fees.

Please note that your Private Health Insurance may also include rebates/coverage for psychological services. As each Insurer and Policy is different, it would be beneficial to check with your insurance agency as to whether you are applicable for rebated sessions.

Your GP may recommend a particular psychologist who can assist you, however, you are also welcome to choose your own psychologist. Even if the referral letter is addressed to a specific psychologist or clinic, a psychologist of your choosing is able to accept the referral.

If you have a MHTP, you can access up to ten Medicare-rebated individual psychology sessions in a calendar year. You will also be able to access up to 10 Medicare-rebated group therapy sessions. Group therapy sessions do not count towards the number of Medicare-rebated individual therapy sessions.

With regards to individual therapy session, you will not initially be eligible for the total 10 Medicare-rebated sessions at once. Rather, when you are first referred to see a psychologist, you will be referred for up to six sessions. After this time, your psychologist will prepare a summary letter for your GP and may recommend another four sessions. It is at this time that you need to see your GP for a Mental Health Care Plan re-referral. During this review your GP will ask about how you are progressing in your sessions and may grant you to have another four sessions.

If you have a MHTP, you will be eligible for Medicare rebates for psychological services, under the Better Access Initiative. As such, you will receive a rebate for eligible psychological sessions you have paid for. There are some psychologists who may bulk-bill, meaning that the psychologist bills Medicare directly for a service provided and accesses the Medicare benefit as full payment for the service. However, more commonly, the cost of a psychological session will be greater than the Medicare rebate. In these instances, you will pay the cost of the session and then be eligible to claim the Medicare rebate.

As of the 1st of November the Medicare Rebate for a psychological session with a Clinical Psychologist is $137.05 and the Medicare Rebate for a psychological session with a Registered Psychologist is $93.60.

Please note that if you spend a certain amount in a calendar year to see doctors, specialists, allied health or undergo testing, you may be eligible for a higher Medicare rebate, if you reach Medicare Safety Net Thresholds. More information regarding Medicare Safety Net Thresholds is available at the following website: What are the Medicare Safety Nets thresholds – Medicare Safety Nets – Services Australia

A MHTP does not expire and a referral is valid until the referred number of sessions have been accessed.

From the beginning of the calendar year, the number of potential Medicare-rebated individual psychology sessions resets to 10. If you have a valid MHTP, you will be able to continue with your treatment without a new plan, so long as you have sessions available to you under a current referral.

Significant changes in your mental health may indicate that you need a new MHTP. Your treatment plan should be regularly reviewed with your GP, to ensure you have been referred to the most appropriate services.