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Mental Health Care Plan — MBS Pathway

Plan, refer to psychology, and review under Better Access

Field: Mental HealthCode: MH-08Updated: June 2026Reference: Nov 2025 Better Access redesign / MBS Online
From 1 Nov 2025, the Better Access redesign removed the dedicated review/consultation items. Preparation items (2700/2701/2715/2717) remain, but reviews and ongoing mental-health consults are now billed as standard time-tiered attendances. Preparation items are only payable if done by a GP at the patient's MyMedicare practice, or their usual medical practitioner.

The care cycle

1
Identify: patient cue, or opportunistic screen with K10.
2
Assess: risk, comorbidity, severity, function, supports.
3
Prepare a plan: 2700/2701 (shorter/less complex) or 2715/2717 (longer/more complex) — written plan with goals.
4
Refer: Better Access psychology, with or without pharmacotherapy — see MH-05/MH-06 for severity-banded stepped care.
5
Review: standard time-tiered consult (e.g. 23/36/44) — adjust plan, consider further referral or specialist input.

Preparation items — key changes

  • 2700 / 2701 / 2715 / 2717 (time-based preparation) remain current — no new item numbers were introduced.
  • 2712 (review) and 2713 (MH consult) were removed — rebill this work under standard time-tiered general attendance items.
  • A review is no longer required just to issue a further Better Access referral.

MyMedicare linkage (from 1 Nov 2025)

Preparation items are only payable for a plan made by a GP/prescribed medical practitioner at the patient's MyMedicare-registered practice, or by their usual medical practitioner (majority of the patient's care over the past, or likely next, 12 months). Patients aren't restricted to that practice for the Better Access services themselves.

Better Access pathway

  • Up to 10 individual + 10 group sessions per calendar year, resetting 1 January.
  • First block of 6 sessions, then a GP review before a further 4 become available.
  • Telehealth-eligible. Providers: registered/clinical psychologist, mental health social worker, occupational therapist (with Better Access endorsement).
When to consider a plan. K10 ≥20, or a positive PHQ-9/GAD-7, in a patient with functional impact. Match treatment intensity to severity — see MH-05 (depression) and MH-06 (anxiety) for the full severity-banded stepped-care detail; don't duplicate those bands here.
Exact descriptors, times & fees. Item descriptors, time thresholds and schedule fees change — confirm current wording and fees for 2700/2701/2715/2717 and the standard attendance items at mbsonline.gov.au before billing.

Safety

  • Ask directly about suicidal ideation — asking does not increase risk.
  • Cover ideation, intent, plan, means and protective factors at every risk review.
  • Reassess risk at every consult while distress remains high, not only at the scheduled review.

Red flags / refer

  • Imminent risk or a clear plan/means → same-day mental health team or ED, do not leave the patient alone.
  • Crisis lines: Lifeline 13 11 14, Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467, 13YARN 13 92 76 (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander).
  • Complex comorbidity, diagnostic uncertainty, or not improving after two referral blocks → psychiatry referral.

MH-08 v1.0 · Reviewed Jun 2026 · Review Jun 2027

For health-professional use. Adapted from the Nov 2025 Better Access redesign (Dept of Health) and MBS Online. Item numbers, fees, MyMedicare rules & session caps change — confirm current detail at mbsonline.gov.au.