Project Officer: Karen Frost
Phone: 8752 4910

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Overview

The ‘Better Access to Psychiatrists, Psychologists and GPs through the MBS’ initiative (Better Access) introduced new Medicare items in 2006 to provide better and more affordable mental health care.  The Better Access MBS items are designed to promote a team approach to mental health care, with GPs better supported to continue working with psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, and other allied mental health professionals to increase the availability of care.

For futher information on the Better Access project please visit the AGPN Primary Mental Health Care Network website.

If you need any help with medicare item numbers and billings procedures please call Karen Frost on 8752 4910. Alternatively you can search the Medicare Benefits Schedule online Medicare Benefits Schedule - Search

Resources

• CSGPNs Mental Health Treatment Plan and Review template
• Better Access MBS Item Number Fees and Rebates Summary
• The Australian General Practice Network has a range of resources for GPs to assist with the implementation of the GP component of the Better Access to Mental Health Care Initiative, including:
  • The Better Access to Mental Health Care: Orientation Manual
  • The Better Access - General Practice Briefing - Powerpoint Presentation
  • Patient Pathways Flowchart
  • Outcome measurement tools
  To access these resources please visit the AGPN Primary Mental Health Care Network Resources page on the AGPN website.
• The Department of Health and Ageing website contains information on initiatives to build the capacity of the mental health care system

Urgent advice from pychiatrists

• GP Psych Support service
• GP Psychiatry liaision - item numbers 291(assessment) and 293 (care plan)
• Psychiatrist referral directory

Mental Health Skills Training for GPs

• RACGP - Mental Health
• Black Dog Institute
• NSW Institue of Psychiatry - Courses for Medical Practitioners
• Mind Performance

CSGPN regularly runs Mental Health CPD events (including MHST), please refer to our CPD Calendar for further details

The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program

The Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP) provides a non-MBS incentive payments to community based general practices, private psychiatry services and other appropriate organisations (including divisions of general practice) who engage mental health nurses to assist in the provision of coordinated clinical care for people with severe mental disorders in the community.

Mental health nurses work in collaboration with psychiatrists and general practitioners to provide services such as monitoring a patient’s mental state, medication management and improving links to other health professionals and clinical service providers.

For more information including brochures and fact sheets and advice on recruiting mental health nurses please call Karen Frost on 8752 4910 or visit www.acmhn.org.

Resources

• Medicare Australia has a variety of resources available for the MHNIP, including:
• Program overview
• Eligibility
• Payments
• Application details
• MHNIP documents
• The Australian College of Mental Health Nurses website has information regarding:
• Credentialing for nurses
• Recruiting nurses
• Fact sheets on the MHNIP