Settlement Guide: 3 Steps to Access Mental Health Services Under Medicare

1. Visit your GP to assess your condition. Your GP can prepare a "Mental Health Treatment Plan". Medicare rebates are available for up to ten visits to mental health services per calendar year.

2. You can be referred to certain Medicare mental health services, such as psychiatrists, once you have a GP "Mental Health Treatment Plan" in place.

3. Depending on your health care needs, following the initial course of six treatment sessions you can return to your GP or psychiatrist for a new referral for an additional four sessions.

Who is eligible?

All Medicare card holders with an assessed mental disorder. The Better Access initiative does not cover dementia, delirium, tobacco use disorder and mental retardation.

Further information on the Better Access initiative is available at: http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-ba

Information regarding eligibility, claiming and payment processes can be obtained from Medicare Australia on 132 011 or at: www.medicareaustralia.gov.au

Better access to mental health care fact sheet