Better Access Initiative

Important changes for General Practices to the Better Access Initiative (including Mental Health Treatment Plans) commenced on 1 November 2025.

For all the changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule from 1 November 2025, refer to MBS Online November 2025 news.

Better Access Initiative changes (including Mental Health Treatment Plans)

From 1 November 2025, there are also changes to the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners Initiative through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, including:  

• A Medicare benefit will be payable for MHTP preparation, referrals for treatment services and reviews of a MHTP when a patient has seen:
  • a GP or PMP at the general practice in which the patient is enrolled in MyMedicare, or 
  • regardless of whether the patient is enrolled in MyMedicare, by the patient’s usual medical practitioner. 
• 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. 
• Further details can be viewed at MBS Online – Better Access changes from 1 November 2025. 

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 1.1 on MBS Online.
• New Fact Sheets developed by the Department of Health, Disabilities and Ageing (DHDA) can be found on Department’s website and under the resources menu.
• Better Access Initiative FAQs have been been updated and can be found under the resources menu.
• 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 or contact your NQPHN for referral options in your region or to learn more about the Stepped Care Model.