Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) explained

What is a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

The introduction of the Better Access to Mental Health initiative in 2006 facilitated increased support for individuals with a diagnosable mental disorder.

Under the 2025 scheme the following 20 diagnoses are eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) referral:
 

1. Depression
2. Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD)
3. Panic disorder
4. Phobic disorders
5. Post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
6. Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
7. Eating disorders
8. Adjustment disorders
9. Mixed anxiety and depression
10. Chronic psychotic disorders
11. Acute psychotic disorders
12. Schizophrenia
13. Bipolar disorders
14. Drug and alcohol use disorders
15. Sexual disorders
16. Sleep difficulties
17. Bereavement disorders
18. Attention deficit disorders
19. Dissociative disorders
20. Unexplained somatic complaints

How do I get a Referral to see a psychologist under a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

To be eligible for this referral you will need to make an appointment with your GP / Paediatrician / Psychiatrist and request they complete a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) for you. It is important that you request a referral letter as the MHCP is not a sufficient referral to us. Please contact us via email at hello@mindspot.net.au and we will send you a checklist of information that is needed on your referral letter that you can take to your healthcare providers at your planning appointment.

Once you commence appointments your clinician will write to your referrer, and anyone else on your treatment team, to confirm the commencement of appointments.  

If you qualify for the Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) plan you will be eligible to receive a Medicare rebate of $141.85 for an appointment with a Clinical Psychologist, or $96.65 Medicare rebate for an appointment with a psychologist.

This Medicare rebate amount will increase once you reach your individual/family Extended Medicare Safety Net (EMSN) threshold of $2414.00 (General) – where you will then receive back 80% of the out-of-pocket expense for your ongoing sessions with a psychologist. 

Our practice administration staff will process the Medicare rebate for your convenience, and it will be transferred directly to your account following this.

How long does my Medical Health Care Plan (MHCP) last? 

Your mental health care plan referral does not expire, and as such it is not essential to receive a new referral every 12 months unless your presenting difficulties have changed.  Your GP / Paediatrician / Psychiatrist may choose to do a new plan every 12 months or a re referral letter may be sufficient.

What’s the maximum amount of psychologist sessions I can claim under 

the Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP)?

You can access a total of 10 Medicare rebates for your appointments with your clinician in this calendar year. 

Typically, following 6 Medicare rebated appointments your clinician will write a progress report related to your treatment goals and you will be eligible to obtain a re-referral from your doctor for a further 4 Medicare rebated appointments. 

Following a further 4 Medicare rebated sessions your clinician will write a further treatment update to your doctor.

Rebates & Medicare Tips! How to ensure you don’t get charged a full private fee?

You are responsible for obtaining a referral should you wish to receive a Medicare rebate for your appointments.  

Our administration and clinical team can assist you with keeping track of the number of Medicare claims that have been made under your referral at our practice and will prompt you to obtain a re-referral should you wish to continue to receive further rebates.

Upon payment of your appointment, you will be emailed a receipt which will show the number of rebated appointments that is remaining in the current allotment of session rebates as per the referral (usually 6 at any one time). 

We suggest you monitor this number, so that together we can ensure the continuation of rebates if this is important to you.