MHCP Referral facts
For GPs: What is a valid referral?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan is not a referral and alone is not sufficient for the psychologist to provide a service unless it contains the following information as outlined by Services Australia:
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date
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patient’s name, date of birth and address
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diagnosis / problem
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request for services and number of sessions
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referring practitioner’s Medicare Provider Number
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practitioner’s signature
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a statement about whether the patient has a GPMHTP, shared care plan or a psychiatrist assessment and management plan.
According to the Medicare Benefits Schedule; “The referral may be in the form of a letter, or note to an eligible allied health professional signed and dated by the referring practitioner. The allied health professional must be in receipt of the referral at the first consultation.”
Note: A referral is valid for the number of sessions identified on the referral and does not expire. It no longer needs to have the specific psychologist's name on it. The referral be addressed to "Psychologist".
Facts about Mental Health Care Plans for GPS
GP Mental Health Treatment Medicare items are:
- MBS items 2700, 2701, 2715 or 2717 – Preparation of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (effective from 1 November 2011);
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MBS item 2712 – Review of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan; and
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MBS item 2713 – GP Mental Health Treatment Consultation.
Please note: GPs do not have to complete another GP Mental Health Treatment Plan using one of the new items (2700, 2701, 2715 or 2717) if they are already managing a patient’s care needs using one of the former GP Mental Health Treatment Plan items (items 2702 and 2710) and this plan is still appropriate to the patient’s needs.
Review of Mental Health Care Plan
When should a Review of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan be done?
Patients with a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan should have at least one formal review (MBS item 2712). As a general rule, a formal review should occur four weeks to six months after the completion of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan. If a further review is required, this can occur three months after the first review. Most patients should not need more than two formal reviews in a 12 month period.
Unless exceptional circumstances exist, a Review of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan should not be done within three months of a previous claim for the same item (MBS item 2712) or within four weeks following a claim for a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan item (MBS items 2700, 2701, 2715 or 2717).
It is also expected that MBS item 2712 would generally not be claimed within four weeks of a claim for a referred psychiatrist assessment and management plan (MBS item 291).
It is not necessary to complete a review using MBS item 2712 in order to refer a patient for further allied mental health services.
