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Better Access to Mental Health (BAMH)

Changes will be made to the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners Initiative through the Medicare Benefits Schedule.

About:

From 1 November 2025, changes will be made to the Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and General Practitioners Initiative through the Medicare Benefits Schedule, subject to the passage of legislation.

From 1 November:

Consistent with recommendations in the Better Access Evaluation published in 2022, the changes will be:

  1. 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.
  2. Medicare benefits will only be payable for Better Access services where the mental health treatment plan, review of the mental health treatment plan and referrals has been undertaken at a patient’s MyMedicare registered practice or by their 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.

A patient’s usual medical practitioner is someone who has provided the majority of services to the person in the past 12 months or who is likely to provide the majority of services to the person in the following 12 months. This includes other GPs and PMPs who are employed at the patient’s usual medical practice. 

*It is important to note that patients can choose to see their usual medical practitioner irrespective of their existing MyMedicare registered status. This is because patients may choose to seek mental health support through a separate GP or PMP for a wide variety of reasons, and these changes will not impact the ability for patients to continue to do this. 

If a patient is registered with a MyMedicare practice but wishes to see a GP at another practice (e.g. a headspace GP) as they consider them to be their ‘usual medical practitioner’ for their mental health support needs, there is nothing precluding the patient from doing so because of the changes coming in to affect. 

Need assistance?

If you need support, please contact our General Practice Team at: practicesupport@ntphn.org.au.

You can find more information about MyMedicare here.

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Key resources:

  • 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 or you can contact NT PHN for referral options in your region or to learn more about the Stepped Care Model.