28 October 2025
Changes will be made to the Better Access initiative for psychiatrists, psychologists and GPs through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, from 1 November.
Changes will include:
- improving the Better Access initiative to meet the needs of individuals and improve equity of access to mental health supports and services
- supporting the holistic relationship between a patient and their healthcare provider, leading to improved patient outcomes
- reducing the administrative burden and complexity for GPs and Prescribed Medical Practitioners (PMP) by providing greater flexibility by using time-tiered professional (general) attendance MBS items to review a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP), refer a patient for mental health treatment and undertake general mental health consultations
From 1 November 2025:
- A Medicare benefit will only be payable for MHTP preparation, referrals for treatment services and reviews of a MHTP when a patient has seen either a GP/PMP at the patient’s MyMedicare registered practice or their usual medical practitioner if not registered with MyMedicare. These requirements do not affect patients who have been referred via a Psychiatrist Assessment and Management Plan or by a direct referral from an eligible psychiatrist or eligible paediatrician.
- GP and PMP MHTP review items (2712, 92114, 92126, 277, 92120, and 92132) and GP and PMP ongoing mental health consultation items (2713, 92115, 92127, 279, 92121 and 92133) will be removed from the MBS.
Key points:
- Removal of the 12 review and mental health consultation items provides GPs and PMPs greater flexibility to use the most appropriate time-tiered professional (general) attendance item, reflecting the time spent with patients. This includes items for longer consultations and, where applicable, the triple bulk billing incentive to review MHTPs and deliver mental health care and support to patients.
- Any MHTP referral dated prior to 1 November 2025 will remain valid until all treatment services specified in the referral (within the maximum session limit for the course of treatment) have been delivered to the patient.
- The MyMedicare and usual medical practitioner requirements will also apply to GP/PMP telehealth items for MHTPs, with these services no longer exempt from the established clinical relationship rule. Further information on the GP MBS telehealth (video and phone) established clinical relationship criteria and exemptions will be available from 1 November 2025 in explanatory note AN.1.1 on MBS Online.
- These changes to do not affect focussed psychological strategies which can continue to be available to any patient from any eligible GP and eligible PMP who has the appropriate training recognised by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration.
- Treatment services referred to under the Better Access Initiative are for patients who require at least a moderate level of mental health support.
- Information on other free or low-cost Commonwealth funded mental health treatment services can be found at Medicare Mental Health
More resources:
This article appeared in Practice Pulse on Wednesday, 29 October 2025. If you are a GP, practice nurse or practice manager in South Western Sydney and do not get the weekly Practice Pulse email, speak to your Practice Support Officer.