Talk to a doctor to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan
- If anyone's life is in immediate danger, call 000 or visit a hospital emergency department. If you're in crisis and need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. They're open 24hrs 7 days a week.
Request a Mental Health Treatment Plan
Talk to an Australian-qualified doctor to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). A MHTP is a support plan for someone experiencing mental health issues and along with a referral letter may entitle you to Medicare rebates on psychology sessions.
Your regular GP
Visit My Care TeamTM to see if your regular GP offers a general telehealth consult, and manage all your regular healthcare providers, in one place.
Bulk billing
via Hola Health
20min
Australian-qualified doctors can help you access a Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral from anywhere in Australia via a bulk billed consultation.
- Video consult with a doctor to receive a Mental Health Treatment Plan, if deemed eligible.
- Talk to a doctor at your preferred time.
- Bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders
Private billing
via 24-7MedCare
30min
Consult with an Australian-qualified doctor from anywhere in Australia to access a Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral if deemed eligible.
- Video consults available 7am to 9pm AEST, 7 days a week
- Choose a time that suits you
- Medicare rebates available
Privately billed
from
$150
With Medicare rebate
From
$3.10-$71.45
You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate which will be determined at the conclusion of your appointment by your practitioner. The Medicare rebate amount you get back is determined by the length of appointment and the doctors mental health skills training ranging from $78.55 to $146.90. Rebates quoted accurate as at 28 July 2023.
Healthengine has partnered with the Telehealth providers featured above and receives fees from its partners.
Find a local GP practice who may offer Mental Health Treatment Plans
If you do not have an established clinical relationship with the practice you may be privately billed.
Local GPs
Find a local GP who may offer Mental Health Treatment Plans.
Bulk billing at GPs determination
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a plan for people experiencing mental health issues. If you have mental health issues, a doctor can write a plan for you.
The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve.
With a MHTP and referral from a doctor you may be eligible for up to 10 rebated psychology sessions per calendar year. This gives you access — subsidised by Medicare — to certain psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers.
A MHTP allows patients who hold a valid Medicare card access to treatment for mental health concerns at a subsidised rate.
As at 9 May 2023, if you have an eligible MHTP and referral from a doctor, the government will provide you with a rebate for accessing psychological services:
- If you see a Registered Psychologist, you will get back $89.65
- If you see a Clinical Psychologist, you will get back $131.65
You aren’t able to access all 10 sessions at once. To start with, your doctor will refer you for 6 sessions. After your 6th session, if more sessions are necessary your psychologist will need to write a letter to your doctor for a mental health plan review.
If approved, your doctor will send a letter (or give one to you) letting the psychologist know you have been approved for 4 more sessions. As with your original Mental Health Treatment Plan, this will also need to include a referral letter.
The information contained in this FAQ is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice. Last updated 9 May 2023
How does it work?
Book an appointment with a GP (either via telehealth or in person) for a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral letter.
If seeing an online psychologist upload your MHTP and referral letter or take them with you to your in person appointment.
Complete and pay for your session, afterwards receive your rebate back into your bank account.
After your 6th session, book an appointment to see your GP again for a mental health plan review if you require more sessions.
Talk to a doctor to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan
- If anyone's life is in immediate danger, call 000 or visit a hospital emergency department. If you're in crisis and need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. They're open 24hrs 7 days a week.
Request a Mental Health Treatment Plan
Talk to an Australian-qualified doctor to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP). A MHTP is a support plan for someone experiencing mental health issues and along with a referral letter may entitle you to Medicare rebates on psychology sessions.
Your regular GP
Visit My Care TeamTM to see if your regular GP offers a general telehealth consult, and manage all your regular healthcare providers, in one place.
Bulk billing
via Hola Health
20min
Australian-qualified doctors can help you access a Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral from anywhere in Australia via a bulk billed consultation.
- Video consult with a doctor to receive a Mental Health Treatment Plan, if deemed eligible.
- Talk to a doctor at your preferred time.
- Bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders
24-7MedCare
30min
Consult with an Australian-qualified doctor from anywhere in Australia to access a Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral if deemed eligible.
- Video consults available 7am to 9pm AEST, 7 days a week
- Choose a time that suits you
- Medicare rebates available
Privately billed
$
150
You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate which will be determined at the conclusion of your appointment by your practitioner. The Medicare rebate amount you get back is determined by the length of appointment and the doctors mental health skills training ranging from $78.55 to $146.90. Rebates quoted accurate as at 28 July 2023.
Healthengine has partnered with the Telehealth providers featured above and receives fees from its partners.
Find a local GP practice who may offer Mental Health Treatment Plans
If you do not have an established clinical relationship with the practice you may be privately billed.
Local GPs
Find a local GP who may offer Mental Health Treatment Plans.
Bulk billing at GPs determination
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a plan for people experiencing mental health issues. If you have mental health issues, a doctor can write a plan for you.
The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve.
With a MHTP and referral from a doctor you may be eligible for up to 10 rebated psychology sessions per calendar year. This gives you access — subsidised by Medicare — to certain psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers.
A MHTP allows patients who hold a valid Medicare card access to treatment for mental health concerns at a subsidised rate.
As at 9 May 2023, if you have an eligible MHTP and referral from a doctor, the government will provide you with a rebate for accessing psychological services:
- If you see a Registered Psychologist, you will get back $89.65
- If you see a Clinical Psychologist, you will get back $131.65
You aren’t able to access all 10 sessions at once. To start with, your doctor will refer you for 6 sessions. After your 6th session, if more sessions are necessary your psychologist will need to write a letter to your doctor for a mental health plan review.
If approved, your doctor will send a letter (or give one to you) letting the psychologist know you have been approved for 4 more sessions. As with your original Mental Health Treatment Plan, this will also need to include a referral letter.
The information contained in this FAQ is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice. Last updated 9 May 2023.
How does it work?
Book an appointment with a GP (either via telehealth or in person) for a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral letter.
If seeing an online psychologist upload your MHTP and referral letter or take them with you to your in person appointment.
Complete and pay for your session, afterwards receive your rebate back into your account.
After your 6th session, book an appointment to see your GP again for a mental health plan review if you require more sessions.
Talk to a doctor to discuss a Mental Health Treatment Plan
- If anyone's life is in immediate danger, call 000 or visit a hospital emergency department. If you're in crisis and need support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14. They're open 24hrs 7 days a week.
Your regular GP
Visit My Care TeamTM to see if your regular GP offers a general telehealth consult, and manage all your regular healthcare providers, in one place.
Bulk billing
via Hola Health
20 min
Australian-qualified doctors can help you access a Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral from anywhere in Australia via a bulk billed consultation.
- Video consult with a doctor to receive a Mental Health Treatment Plan, if deemed eligible.
- Talk to a doctor at your preferred time.
- Bulk billed for eligible Medicare card holders
Private billing
via 24-7MedCare
30 min
Consult with an Australian-qualified doctor from anywhere in Australia to access a Mental Health Treatment Plan & referral if deemed eligible.
- Video consults available 7am to 9pm AEST, 7 days a week
- Choose a time that suits you
- Medicare rebates available
Privately billed
From
$150
With Medicare rebate
From
$3.10-$71.45
You may be eligible for a Medicare rebate which will be determined at the conclusion of your appointment by your practitioner. The Medicare rebate amount you get back is determined by the length of appointment and the doctors mental health skills training ranging from $78.55 to $146.90. Rebates quoted accurate as at 28 July 2023.
Healthengine has partnered with the Telehealth provider featured above and receives fees from this partner.
Local GPs
Find a local GP who may offer Mental Health Treatment Plans.
- Bulk billing at GPs determination
What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a plan for people experiencing mental health issues. If you have mental health issues, a doctor can write a plan for you.
The plan identifies what type of health care you need and spells out what you and your doctor have agreed you are aiming to achieve.
Along with a referral letter a MHTP may entitle you to Medicare rebates on psychology sessions.
With a MHTP and referral from a doctor you may be eligible for up to 10 rebated psychology sessions per calendar year. This gives you access — subsidised by Medicare — to certain psychologists, occupational therapists and social workers.
A MHTP allows patients who hold a valid Medicare card access to treatment for mental health concerns at a subsidised rate.
As at 9 May 2023, if you have an eligible MHTP and referral from a doctor, the government will provide you with a rebate for accessing psychological services:
- If you see a Registered Psychologist, you will get back $89.65
- If you see a Clinical Psychologist, you will get back $131.65
You aren’t able to access all 10 sessions at once. To start with, your doctor will refer you for 6 sessions. After your 6th session, if more sessions are necessary your psychologist will need to write a letter to your doctor for a mental health plan review.
If approved, your doctor will send a letter (or give one to you) letting the psychologist know you have been approved for 4 more sessions. As with your original Mental Health Treatment Plan, this will also need to include a referral letter.
The information contained in this FAQ is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice. Last updated 9 May 2023
How does it work?
- Book an appointment with a GP (either via telehealth or in person) for a Mental Health Treatment Plan and referral letter.
- If seeing an online psychologist upload your MHTP and referral letter or take them with you to your in person appointment.
- Complete and pay for your session, afterwards receive your rebate back into your account.
- After your 6th session, book an appointment to see your GP again for a mental health plan review if you require more sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions
There may be specific instances in which you can claim a Medicare or other rebate for telehealth services, but these are defined by Government, and change from time to time. Your eligibility for this will be determined at the time of your appointment and is at the doctors discretion.
For local GPs offering telehealth services, Medicare rebates are generally limited to when you have previously had a face-to-face appointment with the GP performing the service in the last 12 months, with some limited exceptions.
Under legislation, the existing relationship requirement does not apply to:
- people with a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis (via PCR test or RAT) in the last seven days
- people seeking a request to a private pathologist for PCR testing in relation to COVID-19 (until 31 March 2023). They must be experiencing acute respiratory symptoms and be eligible for Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) criteria for COVID-19 antiviral therapy
- people receiving the telehealth service from a GP at an Aboriginal Medical Service or an Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Service
- children under 12 months old
- people experiencing homelessness
- people in areas affected by natural disasters (since 11 April 2022).
Determination of eligibility rests with states’ and territories’ declaration of an affected local government area. Confirming and documenting that this declaration applies to the region the patient is in at the time of the service/s is a suggested requirement for a valid claim of the exemption.
In addition, based on advice provided by the Department of Health and Aged Care, the requirement does not apply to:
- urgent after-hours attendances during unsociable hours
- GP obstetric services
- allied health services provided on behalf of a GP
- pregnancy support
- blood borne viruses, sexual or reproductive health services
- mental health and eating disorder services
- nicotine and smoking cessation counselling services
For more information, please see here.
For a video consult any smartphone or computer with a camera, speaker, and microphone will work. Your telehealth video consult will open in web browser so there’s no need to download any additional software.
The information contained in this FAQ is general in nature and does not take into account your personal situation. You should consider whether the information is appropriate to your needs, and where appropriate, seek professional advice. Last updated 9 May 2023
