Mental Health Care Plan Australia: How to Get One and What It Covers
A Mental Health Treatment Plan, you may also see it called a Mental Health Care Plan or MHCP, is a structured plan prepared by a GP under Medicare's Better Access initiative. It documents your concerns and goals, and it unlocks up to 10 Medicare-rebated individual psychology sessions per calendar year, delivered in two blocks with a GP review between them.
If you are in crisis right now, call 000, or Lifeline on 13 11 14 at any time.
Get
Mental Health Care Plan
support
No. Abby Health does not provide Mental Health Treatment Plans. Your regular local GP prepares one, and that is genuinely the best place for it, because the plan works through an ongoing relationship with the GP who reviews your progress and unlocks further sessions.
If an Abby clinician prepared a plan for you previously, your local GP can complete your plan reviews and next steps without losing anything.
You need a valid Medicare card and mental health difficulties your GP assesses would benefit from structured psychological support. You do not need a formal diagnosis before you book, and you do not need to be in crisis, the assessment is part of the appointment. Plans are available to Australians of all ages.
Book a longer appointment with your usual local GP and let the clinic know a Mental Health Treatment Plan is the reason, so enough time is allocated. Your GP takes a history, completes a structured assessment (often using a tool like the K10), agrees goals with you, and, where appropriate, prepares the plan and the referral. If you do not have a regular GP, Healthdirect's service finder can help.
Many local GPs bulk bill the plan consultation for eligible patients; others charge a fee with a Medicare rebate. The psychology sessions the plan enables attract a Medicare rebate per session, some psychologists bulk bill, others charge a gap. Current rebate detail is published at Services Australia.
Support that starts from home
Abby Health offers Nurse Practitioner-led mental health support: assessment and short-term support for mild to moderate concerns such as anxiety, low mood, stress, sleep difficulties and grief, with coordination of referrals and regular GP review built in. Our Nurse Practitioners are AHPRA-endorsed clinicians with specialist mental health experience. Where your needs are better met by a GP, psychologist or psychiatrist, including where a Mental Health Treatment Plan would help, your clinician will refer you and help you get there.
Appointments are bulk billed for eligible patients with a valid Medicare card. Strict Bulk Billing eligibility criteria applies.
You can book a mental health consultation online seven days a week.
For what online care can and cannot safely do, see the safety limits of telehealth.
If you are in immediate danger, call 000. Free, 24/7 support: Lifeline 13 11 14 · Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467 · Beyond Blue 1300 22 4636 · 13YARN 13 92 76. A treatment plan is for ongoing support, not urgent safety, please reach out now if you need help now.
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The information reflects guidance available as of the "last updated" date shown above. Medical knowledge evolves, and individual circumstances vary — always discuss decisions about your care with a qualified clinician.
In an emergency, call 000 or attend your nearest emergency department. Abby Health is not an emergency service. For mental health crisis support, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you have feedback or believe any information in this article requires correction, please contact our editorial team at support@abbyhealth.app. Abby Health complies with AHPRA advertising standards and the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's National Safety and Quality Health Service Standards.
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