A Mental Health Treatment Plan is the usual way to get a Medicare rebate for psychology sessions in Australia. It sits under the Australian Government’s Better Access initiative.
The rules changed on 1 November 2025, so some advice you find online is now out of date. This guide explains who can prepare a plan, how many sessions you can claim, which practitioners are covered and what you will still need to pay.
मुख्य बिंदु
- A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from your GP lets you claim Medicare rebates under the Better Access initiative.
- You can claim up to 10 individual and 10 group sessions each calendar year, usually starting with a referral for up to 6.
- Since 1 November 2025, the plan must come from your MyMedicare registered practice or your usual GP.
- Rebates apply to eligible psychologists, clinical psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists. Counsellors are not covered.
- Most practices charge more than the rebate, so expect an out-of-pocket gap fee.
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (often shortened to MHTP) is a written plan your GP prepares with you. It records your mental health concerns, your goals and the treatment that may help. It is sometimes still called a mental health care plan.
The plan is part of the Better Access initiative, which gives Medicare rebates for some mental health services. With a plan and a referral, you can claim part of the cost of sessions with an eligible practitioner.
This article is general information about Medicare. Please check your own situation with your GP or Services Australia.
Who is eligible?
Better Access is for people with a diagnosed mental health condition, such as depression, an anxiety disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The department’s FAQ describes this as a clinically diagnosed mental disorder that needs at least a moderate level of support. Your GP will talk with you about your symptoms and how they affect your life before deciding whether a plan is suitable.
You do not need a plan to see a psychologist. You only need one if you want to claim a Medicare rebate. You can always book directly and pay the full fee.
What changed on 1 November 2025?
The Australian Government changed who can prepare a plan. According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing patient fact sheet, your plan, referrals and reviews now need to come from either:
- the general practice where you are registered in MyMedicare, or
- your usual medical practitioner. This is the GP who has provided most of your care in the past 12 months, or who will provide most of your care in the next 12 months.
MyMedicare is a free, voluntary program that links you with a regular general practice. You do not have to register. The department’s FAQ says you can still use the usual medical practitioner option instead.
This change means a one-off visit to a new clinic may not be enough. If you do not have a regular GP, it is worth finding one you can keep seeing.
How to get a plan, step by step
- Book with your regular GP. Ask for a longer appointment and say you would like to talk about a Mental Health Treatment Plan.
- Talk about what is happening. Your GP will ask about your symptoms, your history and how things are affecting daily life. They may use a short questionnaire.
- Agree on goals. Together you decide what you want to work on and what kind of help suits you.
- Get your referral. Your GP writes the plan and a referral to an eligible practitioner. You can suggest a practitioner you have already found.
- Book your sessions. Give the practice your referral before your first appointment so the rebate can be claimed.
After each course of treatment, your practitioner must send a written report to the GP who referred you. This helps your GP decide on next steps with you.
How many sessions can you claim?
Services Australia explains that you can get Medicare rebates for up to 10 individual sessions and up to 10 group sessions each calendar year.
How the sessions work
- Your GP prepares your plan and refers you for a first course of up to 6 individual sessions.
- After those sessions, your practitioner sends a written report to your GP.
- Your GP reviews how you are going. If more sessions would help, they can refer you for the rest of your 10 sessions for that year.
The yearly limit runs from 1 January to 31 December. A plan does not have an expiry date, and your GP does not usually need to write a new plan each year. If you have sessions left on a referral at the end of the year, the department says they can still be used in the next calendar year. They then count toward that new year’s limit.
The yearly limit applies across all Better Access providers, not to each one separately. If you see more than one practitioner in a year, keep a note of how many sessions you have used. Your practitioner or Services Australia can help if you are unsure.
Referrals from psychiatrists and paediatricians
A psychiatrist or paediatrician can refer you directly for Better Access sessions without a GP plan. The same yearly session limits apply.
Who can you see with a plan?
Medicare rebates under Better Access are available for sessions with:
- clinical psychologists
- registered psychologists
- eligible mental health social workers
- eligible occupational therapists
- GPs who provide focussed psychological strategies
Counsellors and psychotherapists are not covered by Better Access. If you would like to see a counsellor, you would usually pay privately or check whether your private health insurance extras cover it. Our article on counsellors, psychologists and clinical psychologists explains the differences.
Sessions can be face to face or by telehealth (video or phone) where that is safe and suitable. The rebate amount can vary depending on the type of practitioner and the length of the session.
What will it cost?
Medicare pays a set rebate for each eligible session. Practitioners set their own fees, and many charge more than the rebate. The difference is called the gap, and you pay it.
Before you book, ask the practice:
- What is the full fee per session?
- What is the Medicare rebate for this practitioner?
- What will I pay out of pocket?
- Can the rebate be processed on the day?
Other options
Some people use other funding, such as the NDIS, workers compensation, the Transport Accident Commission or the Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Each has its own rules. There are also free options. Medicare Mental Health offers free phone support on 1800 595 212 on weekdays, without a referral, and a free online service called Medicare Mental Health Check In.
यदि आप खतरे में हैं, तो 000 पर कॉल करें। 24 घंटे संकट सहायता के लिए लाइफलाइन पर 13 11 14 पर कॉल करें।.
Invictus Health कैसे मदद कर सकता है
Invictus Health पेशकशें परामर्श और नैदानिक मनोविज्ञान in person at our Preston clinic in Melbourne and by telehealth across Australia. If you would like to use a Mental Health Treatment Plan, check with us before your first session. We can tell you which practitioners it applies to and what your costs will be.
Please note that neuropsychological, ADHD and autism assessments at Invictus Health are generally not Medicare rebated. You can see current fees on our fees and rebates page या हमारी टीम से संपर्क करें with questions.
अक्सर पूछे जाने वाले प्रश्न
Do I need a new mental health care plan every year?
Usually not. A Mental Health Treatment Plan does not have an expiry date, and the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing says a new plan should not normally be created unless there are exceptional circumstances. The yearly limit resets on 1 January. Any sessions left on your current referral can be used in the new year, and after that your GP can review your plan and refer you again if needed.
Can I get a Mental Health Treatment Plan from any GP?
Not anymore. Since 1 November 2025, Medicare only pays rebates if the plan, referral and review come from your MyMedicare registered practice or your usual medical practitioner. A walk-in clinic you have never visited may not qualify. If you are unsure, ask the clinic when you book whether they can prepare a plan for you under the current rules.
Can I use my Mental Health Treatment Plan for telehealth?
Yes. Sessions with an eligible psychologist or other Better Access provider can be by video or phone when this is safe and clinically suitable. Medicare rebates are available for eligible telehealth sessions. If your GP prepares the plan itself by telehealth, they usually need to have seen you face to face in the past 12 months.
Can I see a counsellor with a mental health care plan?
No. Counsellors are not eligible providers under the Better Access initiative, so Medicare rebates do not apply to their sessions. Rebates are only available for eligible psychologists, clinical psychologists, mental health social workers, occupational therapists and GPs. Some private health insurance extras policies pay part of a counsellor’s fee, so check with your fund.
What happens when I use all 10 sessions?
Once you reach 10 individual sessions in a calendar year, Medicare will not pay further Better Access rebates until 1 January. You can keep seeing your practitioner and pay the full fee, space out sessions, or look at other options such as group sessions, free digital programs or community services. Talk with your GP and practitioner about a plan that suits you.
Questions about using your plan?
Check with our team before your first session so you know which practitioners and fees apply.
संदर्भ
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Better Access initiative. Australian Government; accessed 2026. health.gov.au/our-work/better-access-initiative
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Fact sheet for patients: Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners through the MBS initiative. Australian Government; 2025. health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/better-access-f…
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Frequently asked questions: Better Access initiative. Australian Government; 2025. health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-11/frequently-aske…
- Services Australia. Mental health care and Medicare. Australian Government; accessed 2026. servicesaustralia.gov.au/mental-health-care-and-medicare
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Better Access redesign from 1 November 2025. Australian Government; 2025. health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/better-access-r…
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. Medicare Mental Health. Australian Government; accessed 2026. health.gov.au/our-work/medicare-mental-health