Mental Health Treatment Plan — Better Access Initiative (MBS Items 2700 / 2715)

Issuing authority

Services Australia / Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing

Official source

How to apply

1. Book a long GP appointment (30+ minutes) and tell the receptionist you need a Mental Health Care Plan or Mental Health Treatment Plan.
2. Your GP assesses your mental health, makes a clinical diagnosis of a mental disorder, and determines you have at least moderate support needs.
3. The GP prepares the written Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) — this is billed under MBS item 2715 or 2717 (GPs with mental health skills training) or 2700 or 2701 (all GPs).
4. The plan documents your diagnosis, treatment goals, assessment findings, identified risks, and crisis intervention plan; a copy is offered to you.
5. Your GP issues a referral letter to an eligible allied health provider (psychologist, mental health social worker, or occupational therapist).
6. Attend up to 6 individual psychology sessions in the first referral block, with Medicare rebates applying ($98.95 for general psychologists, $145.25 for clinical psychologists, $87.25 for mental health social workers per session, as at 2026).
7. Return to your GP for a review (using a standard time-based consult from November 2025 onwards) and receive a further referral for up to 4 more sessions, to a maximum of 10 individual sessions per calendar year.
8. Sessions reset each calendar year (1 January); a new MHTP is generally not prepared within 12 months unless clinically required.

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