Mental Health Treatment Plan: Benefits, Risks and Options

A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a written plan a GP prepares with you when you have a mental health condition such as depression or anxiety. It sets out what's going on, what you want to change and which treatment and support will help, and it's what Medicare usually needs before it pays a rebate for psychology appointments. Getting a Mental Health Treatment Plan starts with a longer GP appointment, where the doctor decides with you whether a plan is the right step.

Key takeaways

• A GP prepares the plan after assessing you; it's the current Medicare name for what many call a mental health care plan.
• With a plan and a referral, Medicare pays a rebate for up to 10 individual appointments a calendar year.
• Many psychologists charge more than the rebate, so ask about the gap fee before you book.
• Your GP reviews how you're going during your course of therapy and can change the plan.
• In a crisis, call 000 or Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any hour.

What a Mental Health Treatment Plan Includes

A Mental Health Treatment Plan includes an assessment of your mental health, the condition your GP finds, the goals you agree on and the treatment and support that will help you reach them. Many people search for it as a mental health care plan, the older name, and it's the same document. Under Medicare's Better Access program, it's the usual first step to rebated appointments with a psychologist or another mental health professional.

To get a plan, book a longer appointment with a GP and say you'd like to talk about your mental health. Eligibility comes down to two things: a mental health condition your GP has assessed, and a Medicare card. A plan is for you if your symptoms are affecting your work, study, relationships or sleep, and you'd like structured help rather than coping alone. It helps by giving you a clear path to therapy at a lower cost and a GP who keeps track of your progress.

The appointment usually runs longer than a standard one. The GP asks about your symptoms, your history, your use of alcohol and other drugs, and your safety, and may ask you to fill in a short questionnaire. You agree on goals together, and you can ask for a copy of the plan. The GP then writes a referral to the kind of professional that suits you.

To get the most from your treatment, be honest about your symptoms, write down your goals before the appointment, keep going to your appointments even when you start to feel better, and go back to your GP if something isn't working. Medicare has its own rules about who can prepare the plan, and your regular GP, who knows your history, is often the best person to do it.

Therapy Options Covered by a Treatment Plan

A treatment plan can lead to individual appointments with a psychologist, a clinical psychologist, or a social worker or occupational therapist with mental health training, and to group therapy. These professionals use proven talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy, which helps you change unhelpful thoughts and habits, and interpersonal therapy, which looks at relationships and life changes. What people often call a GP mental health care plan, or a GP Mental Health Plan, works the same way whichever of these professionals you see. If you have an eating disorder, a separate plan with more appointments applies. If your GP thinks you need a specialist opinion or a medicine review, they can refer you to a psychiatrist as well as, or instead of, a Mental Health Treatment Plan referral. Free online programs and phone support services can sit alongside therapy, and your GP can suggest ones that suit you. Appointments usually last about 50 minutes, often weekly or fortnightly at first, and if the fit isn't right you can change practitioner with a new referral from your GP. Many practitioners have waiting lists, so it can help to contact a few practices as soon as you have your referral.

Rebates and Gap Fees for Plan Appointments

Medicare pays a rebate for each eligible appointment, and the gap fee is whatever the professional charges above it. The rebate is higher for a clinical psychologist than for a general psychologist, social worker or occupational therapist. Some practitioners bulk bill, so you pay nothing, but many charge more than the rebate and leave a gap that can be substantial, so ask about fees when you book, and about any cancellation fee, because Medicare pays nothing for a missed appointment. The GP appointment to prepare a Mental Health Treatment Plan may be bulk billed or attract a fee, depending on the clinic. Once you reach the Medicare Safety Net threshold for the year, you get more of your out-of-pocket costs back. Private health insurance extras cover can help with some appointments, but not with an appointment that Medicare has already paid for. A GP mental health care plan doesn't set the price of appointments, so check costs with each practice first. If cost is a barrier, ask your GP about practitioners who bulk bill, low-cost community services and free programs, some of which don't need a plan at all.

Signs It's Time to Talk to a GP

It's time to talk to a GP when low mood, worry or stress lasts more than two weeks or starts to affect your work, study, relationships or sleep. Other signs include losing interest in things you used to enjoy, panic attacks, feeling on edge most of the time, changes in appetite, drinking more to cope, or withdrawing from people. You don't need to know whether you need one of the Medicare mental health care plans; the GP will talk it through with you and decide on the next step together. A Mental Health Plan isn't the only option, and some people start with self-help or a short course of support. Before the appointment, it helps to jot down what you've noticed, how long it's been going on and how it's affecting your days, so you don't have to remember everything on the spot, along with a list of any medicines you take. If you have thoughts of harming yourself or ending your life, or you're worried about someone else's safety, call 000 or go to an emergency department, or call Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any hour.

Medicare Funding for Psychology Appointments

Medicare funds up to 10 individual and up to 10 group therapy appointments a calendar year through the Better Access program, once you have a plan and a referral. Your GP usually refers you for a first block of appointments, and the psychologist sends a report back. Your GP then reviews your progress before referring you for the rest of the year's appointments. The count resets on 1 January, and appointments you don't use don't carry over. Your GP decides when a Medicare Mental Health Plan needs reviewing or replacing, so ask them whether you need a new one. Each appointment must be with a professional registered to provide these Medicare services, so check when you book. If you've used the year's appointments and still need help, your GP can talk about other options, such as group therapy, community mental health services or a psychiatrist. Appointments in person and by telehealth are both covered, which helps if you live far from a practitioner.

Summary

A Mental Health Treatment Plan is a GP's written plan that maps out your care and opens the door to Medicare rebates for therapy, with regular reviews along the way. Cost gaps and waiting lists are the main drawbacks, so ask about fees early. If you'd like to talk about a Mental Health Treatment Plan, tell Medio what you need when you book, or ask the doctor during the phone call, and they'll tell you whether they can help or whether your regular GP is the right person.

Frequently asked questions

What are mental disorders?

Mental disorders are health conditions that change how you think, feel or behave, and cause distress or make daily life harder. Common ones include depression, anxiety disorders and post-traumatic stress; others include bipolar disorder, eating disorders and psychosis. They're common, they're not a sign of weakness, and most respond well to treatment.

How to improve your mental health?

Regular sleep, physical activity, time with people you trust, less alcohol and a routine that includes things you enjoy all help your mental health. Talking about how you feel, rather than bottling it up, matters too. If these steps aren't enough, or things are getting worse, talk to a GP.

Can a doctor prescribe Mental Health Treatment Plan online?

A plan isn't prescribed; a GP prepares it with you after an assessment, which can sometimes happen by telehealth. Medicare has its own rules about who can prepare one. With Medio, tell us what you need when you book, or ask the doctor during the phone call, and they'll tell you whether they can help or whether your regular GP is the right person.

How to deal with a loved one with mental illness?

Listen without judging, ask how you can help, and encourage them to see a GP. Learn about their condition, keep in touch, and look after your own health too, as carers need support of their own. If you think they're at risk of harming themselves, call 000. A child's or teenager's mental health is best checked by a GP in person.

Why is mental health awareness important?

Mental health awareness helps people notice the signs early, in themselves and in others, and makes it easier to ask for help without shame. Many people wait years before getting treatment. Who can provide services under the plan? Psychologists, clinical psychologists, and social workers and occupational therapists with mental health training.

Which mental illness is considered the most severe?

Severity depends on the person rather than the label. Conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression can affect life most, but anxiety can be disabling too. What is the Better Access initiative? It's the Medicare program that funds rebated psychology appointments with a plan. What if I'm scared about talking about my mental health? Your GP hears these concerns every day, and you can go at your own pace.