From November 1st, 2025, the Better Access initiative is being redesigned in response to the Australian Government’s evaluation of the program:
- The Review and Consultation MBS items for GP Mental Health Treatment Plans will be removed from the MBS. The time-based Preparation items will remain.
- Patients enrolled in MyMedicare are encouraged to obtain referrals for treatment under Better Access by a GP at their MyMedicare-registered practice or their usual practitioner to improve continuity of care.
Mental Health Treatment Plan item changes
With the removal of the Review and Consultation MBS items for Mental Health Treatment Plans in favour of the time-based items for Preparation, GP’s will have more flexibility to determine the appropriate amount of time needed with a patient based on their individual needs and circumstances to treat the patient.
The following Review and Consultation items will be removed from Bp Premier. The Preparation item numbers will remain and are to be billed for the review and consultation related to a Mental Health Treatment Plan from November 1st going forward. There are no new item numbers being introduced.
|
Review (Removed) |
Consultation (Removed) |
Preparation (Remains) |
|---|---|---|
|
2712 |
2713 |
2700 |
|
92114 |
92115 |
2701 |
|
92126 |
92127 |
2715 |
|
277 |
279 |
2717 |
|
92120 |
92121 |
|
|
92132 |
92133 |
Who can use the preparation item numbers for MHTPs?
The existing Preparation MBS items (2700, 2701, 2715, 2717) will only be payable for Better Access services linked to a mental health care plan created at the practice the patient is registered with MyMedicare at, or by their usual medical practitioner.
A patient's usual medical practitioner is:
- A provider who has given the majority of services to the patient in the last 12 months.
- A provider who is likely to provide the majority of services in the following 12 months.
This includes the general practitioners and prescribed medical practitioners at the patient's usual practice.
NOTE Patients are not limited to seeing providers at their MyMedicare registered practice to provide mental health services related to their mental health treatment plan.
Further resources
- MBS Online - See the Better Access redesign from 1 November 2025 heading under the Associated Notes on the MBS online webpage for Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 2715.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing - Better Access redesign from 1 November 2025.
Information correct at time of publishing (16 September 2025).
AU 