Understanding Mental Health Care Plans: A Step-by-Step Guide

If you have been considering seeing a psychologist, you may have come across the term Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) or sometimes called a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP). These plans are one of the most common ways to access reduced fee options through Medicare

This post explains the process of obtaining a MHTP, from the initial GP appointment through to seeing your psychologist.

What is a mental health treatment plan?

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a document prepared by your GP that assesses your mental health needs and provides a referral to a mental health professional, most commonly a psychologist. This is how you access Medicare rebates for psychology sessions, which at the  time of writing for clinical psychologists is $145.25.

A rebate is a refund from Medicare, meaning you do not pay the full session fee out of pocket. For example, if a session costs $250, Medicare will refund $145.25 directly to you, reducing what you actually pay for psychology appointments. Without a MHTP, you can still see a psychologist privately, but you will not receive the rebate and will have to pay the full session out of pocket. Medicare covers up to ten sessions per calendar year under a MHTP.

How to get a MHTP

Step One: Book an appointment with your gp

The first step is to book an appointment with your GP and let them know you would like to discuss your mental health. It is worth mentioning this when you book, as some practices allocate longer appointments for this purpose.

You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis or a clear explanation of what is wrong. Your GP's role in this appointment is to assess your symptoms and prepare a referral to an appropriate mental health professional. Being honest about what you have been experiencing, even if it is difficult to bring up, is the most useful thing you can do.

Step Two: The GP assessment

During the appointment, your GP will ask about your symptoms, how long you have been experiencing them, and how they have been affecting your daily life. They may use a brief mood questionnaire to assess your symptoms further.

Based on this conversation, your GP will determine whether a Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate for your situation. In most cases, if you are experiencing symptoms of depression, anxiety, or another mental health concern that is affecting your functioning, a plan will be prepared.

Step Three: Receiving your referral

Once the plan is in place, your GP will provide you with a referral to a psychologist (or other eligible mental health professional) that you can then pass on to your psychologist of choice. This referral can be addressed to a specific practitioner, or it can be a general referral that you use to contact a practice of your choice.

The referral is typically valid for twelve months. It is worth keeping a copy, as your psychologist will need to sight it before processing your Medicare rebate.

Step Four: Booking with a psychologist

You can contact and book an appointment with a psychologist at any point of the process. You just need to have a MHTP before your first appointment in order to be eligible for the rebate.

Medicare rebates are applied per session. At the time of writing, the rebate for sessions with a clinical psychologist is higher than for a registered general psychologist, so it is worth clarifying which type of psychologist you are seeing.

A few things worth knowing

The ten sessions available under a MHTP reset at the beginning of each calendar year. If you reach your ten sessions before the year ends and feel you need to continue, this is something you can discuss with your psychologist.

Your GP and psychologist may also communicate with each other (with your consent) to coordinate your care. This is particularly relevant if you are also seeing a psychiatrist or taking medication for a mental health condition.

If your GP does not feel a plan is appropriate at this time, you are entitled to seek a second opinion from another GP.

You do not need a referral to begin

It is worth noting that a MHTP is not a prerequisite for seeing a psychologist. If you would prefer to begin without one, or if you are not yet ready to see your GP, you can contact a psychology practice directly and arrange an appointment. The plan simply makes sessions more financially accessible.

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Resilient Path Clinical Psychology is a private practice in Camberwell, Melbourne, offering individual therapy for adults. If you have questions about getting started, you are welcome to get in touch.