Information for GPs

GP Mental Health Treatment Plans

What is involved in a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan?

In order for a GP to refer a client for psychological services under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, the GP must first complete a detailed assessment and diagnosis of the client. The GP must then prepare the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, which includes documenting results of the assessment, client’s needs, goals and actions, referrals and required treatment/services, and a review date. There is no particular form that is used for preparing the Mental Health Treatment Plan. Clients are encouraged to book a longer session with their GP if they are requesting a referral for psychological services, in order to enable the GP to complete the assessment and GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.

How often does a new GP Mental Health Treatment Plan have to be prepared?

In order for a GP to refer a client for psychological services under the Better Access to Mental Health Care initiative, the GP must first complete a detailed assessment and diagnosis of the client. The GP must then prepare the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, which includes documenting results of the assessment, client’s needs, goals and actions, referrals and required treatment/services, and a review date. There is no particular form that is used for preparing the Mental Health Treatment Plan. Clients are encouraged to book a longer session with their GP if they are requesting a referral for psychological services, in order to enable the GP to complete the assessment and GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Does a client need a new GP Mental Health Treatment Plan to access further services in a subsequent calendar year?

Clients who are being managed by their GP under a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan who need to access further referred services during a new calendar year do not need to have a new Treatment Plan prepared (unless required by the client’s clinical condition, needs or circumstances). 
A new referral for allied mental health services may be provided by the GP in the new calendar year where a client has used all previously referred services and the GP considers that the client requires additional allied mental health services (up to the calendar year entitlement of 10 sessions). As noted above, it is not necessary to prepare a new Treatment Plan just to make a new referral for services.

Changes to referrals – COVID related

The recent Medicare changes for referring patients for Psychology sessions have been confusing and unclear. The following information hopes to assist GP’s to provide a valid referral:

All referral letters must clearly specify the number of sessions for the referral e.g. 6, 4 or  Extra 10 COVID19 sessions 11-20

Per calendar year under a MHCP referral, clients can access 10 sessions and the extra 10 COVID-19 sessions

Standard number of sessions usually follow 6+4+extra10 (this process only applies to new MHCP for 2021)

The referral letter must contain date, GP provider number and number of sessions referred

Please note:

For clients mid-way through a referral in the calendar year change over the following applies:
If undertaking the first 10 sessions of MHCP at the end of 2020 e.g. referral for 6 or 4 sessions: 

Psychologist continues with referral of standard sessions in 2021 and when due for review follow the below process.

Request GP for re-referral: The GP should refer for the “standard 10 sessions” e.g. a re-referral for 6 sessions

E.g. Client sees psychologist for 8 sessions in 2020 (6/6+2/4) then 2 sessions in 2021 to complete the 4 session referral.

GP re-referral letter should refer for standard 6 sessions>psychologist completes 6 sessions and writes to GP (2021 total 8/20 sessions completed)

Then review with GP referral for remaining “standard sessions” = 2 (10/20 sessions for 2021)

When 10 “standard session” have been completed in 2021

Psychologist then requests for additional 10 COVID19 sessions 11-20

If undertaking the COVID19 extra 10 sessions (11-20 sessions) at the end of 2020:

Psychologist should continue the additional 10 COVID-19 sessions at the beginning of the new calendar year 2021.

e.g., 2020 client completed 15/20 sessions (5/10 COVID19 sessions). In 2021 the additional COVID-19 sessions should be utilized first before then going back to the original (6+4) for the calendar year. Once these 10 are used, clients can utilise the remaining 5/10 COVID-19 sessions.

Please note a maximum of 20 sessions per calendar year per client.