Australians accessing subsidised psychology sessions will have their visits halved in a matter of weeks as the government moves to scrap a scheme introduced at the height of the pandemic.
In 2020, the former Morrison government temporarily increased the number of subsidised visits to a pyschologist from 10 to 20 through the Better Access Program.
But from next year patients will only be able to claim Medicare rebates on 10 sessions per calendar year.
Health Minister Mark Butler on Monday said while many people benefitted from the program, not everyone had equal access.
Australians accessing subsidised psychology sessions will have their visits halved in a matter of weeks as the government moves to scrap a scheme introduced at the height of the pandemic. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman
"The evaluation I am publishing today considered the impact of those additional 10 sessions and found they drove a very big increase in the number of services in this sector generally," Mr Butler said on Monday.
"But it found that those additional 10 aggravated existing wait lists and aggravated barriers to access, particularly by (people in rural and low socio-economic areas).
"The evaluation found that all of the additional services went to existing patients and that the number of new patients who were able to get into the system and get access to psychology services actually declined by 7 per cent."
Just last week the Australian Psychological Society called on the government to make the additional sessions permanent.
APS President Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe argued the limitations of the program could have been addressed without removing life-saving services from people.
“The government-commissioned Better Access evaluation released today found workforce shortages and location as key barriers to patient care which makes the axing of the additional sessions program harder to understand," she said.
“This program safely gave many people telehealth or in-person psychological care for the first time in their lives, yet many patients will now have to ration or stop treatment altogether.
“Just as people shouldn’t be asked to ration vital medicines like insulin, they shouldn’t have to ration mental health care."
Suicide Prevention Australia CEO Nieves Murray said the decision was concerning at a time when distress within the community was high.
"The decision to remove extra mental health supports at a time when interest rates are rising, housing pressure is growing and distress is high is baffling and very concerning," she said.
“While we support any changes to improve the Better Access program it makes no sense to turn off additional supports before those changes are developed.
“We look forward to working with the Government and other stakeholders to consider any improvements but until that process takes place, we should not cut-off current supports."
Professor Sam Harvey, Executive Director and Chief Scientist at the Black Dog Institute, said he hoped the changes were a step towards "meaningful and evidence-based mental health care reform".
“The additional sessions offered during the pandemic was an appropriate response to the situation Australia faced two years ago but long-term mental health reform is what is needed," he said.
"Many psychologists and psychiatrists have long wait lists and in some areas, there are limited options available to those unable to afford the gap fees.
"It is hoped that the changes will result in shorter wait times and more people being able to access mental health support when they need it."