Mental Health Treatment Plan Online

What the Mental Health Treatment Plan does

The Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is an Australian Government initiative delivered through Medicare. It is designed by your GP after a mental health assessment and sets out goals, treatment approaches, and referrals. Once completed, it gives you access to up to 10 Medicare-rebated sessions per calendar year with an allied mental health provider such as a psychologist, mental health social worker, or eligible occupational therapist.

Additional group sessions may also be accessed. A review with your GP is typically recommended after the initial 6 individual sessions to assess progress and plan next steps.

How the process works

During a telehealth consultation, your GP will take a thorough mental health history, complete a standardised assessment where appropriate, and discuss your goals. The plan is then created and shared with you (and your chosen allied health provider with your consent).

You can choose your own psychologist or allied health provider. The MHTP is valid for the calendar year. Your GP can also prescribe medication, issue referrals to psychiatrists, and provide follow-up consultations as part of your mental health care.

Who is eligible

MHTPs are designed for people with a diagnosed or suspected mental health condition that may benefit from structured psychological intervention. Eligibility for Medicare rebates requires a valid Medicare card and assessment by an Australian GP. NewDoc telehealth consultations are available to eligible Medicare cardholders across Australia.

The 12-month rule — and why NewDoc doesn't apply it

Many Australian telehealth services require you to have had an in-person consultation with the same GP or practice within the previous 12 months before a Medicare-rebated telehealth consultation can be billed. This is known as the “established clinical relationship” rule and applies to standard MBS telehealth item numbers.

NewDoc operates under the disaster zone exemption, which removes the 12-month established-relationship requirement for telehealth Medicare billing. This means new patients can access a Mental Health Treatment Plan via NewDoc telehealth on the same day, even if they have never seen a NewDoc GP in person — for eligible Medicare cardholders.

For people who have struggled to find a GP, or who are travelling, recently moved, or otherwise without a regular GP, this matters: NewDoc can create an MHTP and refer you to a psychologist same-day, on Medicare, without the usual 12-month wait. The clinical assessment is unchanged — your GP still takes a thorough mental health history and develops the plan with you.

After your MHTP — choosing a psychologist

Once your MHTP is in place, you choose your own registered psychologist or eligible allied mental health provider (mental health social worker, eligible occupational therapist). You can also access psychology by telehealth — many Australian psychologists offer video sessions.

Each Medicare-rebated session is partially subsidised; the gap fee (if any) varies between providers. Some psychologists bulk bill, others charge a gap. Ask the psychologist when booking. After the first 6 sessions a review consultation with your GP is required to access the remaining 4 sessions in the calendar year.