MHCP

I think the Australian Psychological Society would be a pretty reliable source which clarifies a lot of this here and matches what is written on Department of Health sources too.

• 10 per calendar year, under the Better Access initiative (with a mental health care plan)
• No exceptions to this
• Chronic Disease Management sessions offered in addition to the commonly referred to as "10 sessions"
• ATAPS services are not in addition to the 10

Here's the section that I feel states this all the clearest (if anyone is interested but not interested in reading through the entire page of that link - fair enough too!)

That all fits with my understanding of the situation @CheerBear. I know the APS has been campaigning very loudly against the 10 session limit ever since it was introduced.

@Phoenix_Rising @CheerBear just to add to the confusion more - in regards to billing and codes through medicare from the GP - here is how it works -

• Medicare code 2717 used for initial MHCP (can only be billed every 12 months to medicare)
• 2717 (review of plan) can be done after I month.
• This provides an initial 6 sessions under the plan + upon review - an additional 4 sessions (total 10 sessions on a 2717)
• If the patient/client has used all 10 sessions in a calendar year but not due for another 2717 MHCP until a 12 month period is up – then GP can do a 2712 – which is a further review AND referral for another 6 sessions. The 2712 can then be used again after these 6 session (but only after a month) for another 4 sessions.
• This means that in a 12 month period a patient/client can have 10 medicare rebated sessions from the initial MHCP AND additional 10 sessions on a review (total – 20 sessions in a 12 month period)

If neither of these codes (2717- has to be done first - then 2712) are used by the GP then medicare will not rebate ANYTHING to the patient/client for ANY sessions with a psychologist as there will be no record of that person having done a MHCP and are therefore not eligible to be rebated for psychologist services.

@CheerBear yep - straight from medicare via my GP today

It actually does match The Department of Health information at 2.3 @CheerBear

2.3 What if a patient has already had a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan provided?

Where a patient has had a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan completed within the previous 12 months, a common sense approach, consistent with normal professional practice, should be taken in relation to the mental health Medicare services to be provided to the patient.

The GP can:

• firstly ask the patient if they are able to provide a copy of the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan previously prepared;
• if not, then, with the patient's permission, attempt to obtain a copy of the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan from the previous GP.

Where a GP is able to obtain a copy of the patient's previous GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, the GP should consider whether the existing Plan is still appropriate for the patient. If necessary, the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan may be reviewed using MBS item 2712 (Review of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan). Note: Unless exceptional circumstances exist, MBS item 2712 cannot be used within 4 weeks of the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan being developed or 3 months of a previous MBS item 2712.

Where a GP is unable to obtain a copy of the patient's existing GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, the GP should develop a new Plan using MBS items 2700, 2701, 2715 or 2717. It would generally not be appropriate for the GP to use MBS item 2712 as this item is to be used to review the existing GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.

The link is 2012 but is directly from the 2017 updated info @CheerBear

Here is the actual medicare link which states the same Medicare Item 2717