15 August 2024
Message from Chair
Hello from the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC), and welcome to the winter edition of our newsletter.
The Department of Health and Aged Care revealed a number of changes to the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) item numbers in May, with the most notable change being the removal of the mental health treatment plan review and mental health consultation item numbers.
Instead of claiming these item numbers, GPs will be able to claim the most appropriate general attendance item based on the amount of time spent with patients. This also includes new items for a longer consultation, which acknowledges that GPs spend more time with patients on their mental health. The number of sessions a patient can access via the Better Access initiative remains unchanged.
The GPMHSC hopes these changes will address GPs concerns about longer consults and claiming rules. Further information is available in the section below on Changes to MBS Item Numbers from 1 November 2025. If you would like to make any comments around these changes, please contact the GPMHSC Secretariat.
Assoc Prof Morton Rawlin
Chair, GPMHSC