Unfortunately, Federal Minister for Health Mark Butler MP has this week confirmed the additional 10 psychology sessions will not be made available beyond 31 December 2022. This decision was taken despite an independent government-commissioned Better Access evaluation recommending that these additional sessions remain in place.
Although the additional sessions were introduced as part of covid measure we are deeply disappointed by this decision and we understand that you have many questions and concerns about this development. Many of you have advised us that this announcement has in fact increased demand for your services, with distressed patients telling you they need help more than ever.
We are working closely with the Department of Health to urgently provide clarification and answers to some of your common questions about referrals and item numbers.
We will continue to communicate with our members about details as released by the Department.
APS has advocated extensively on this issue calling for a minimum of 20 sessions to be made available to patients through the mental health care plan.
We have doubled down on our advocacy efforts this week, continuing our discussions with the Minister’s office, our sector partners, and the national media.
With your support, we have had more than 350 media mentions on this issue alone, reaching a cumulative potential audience of more than 20 million people. Stories like these make an impact and start conversations across the country, helping us reach the community, government and numerous other stakeholders with our messages.
While the Federal Government should be commended on several initiatives to improve health and mental health services, we believe it now has an opportunity to show compassionate leadership and commit to supporting the mental health and wellbeing of Australians.
With more than one million additional mental health sessions accessed through this program in financial year 2021-22, it is clear patients across Australia have finally been getting the evidence-based treatment they’ve always needed. Evidence shows that 20 psychological sessions is the average treatment dose required for the best results, leaving patients, healthcare workers and ultimately taxpayers better off in the short and long term.
I want to thank our members for reaching out this week to share your concerns and experiences, as it does help us to further our discussions with government. Your dedication has never been stronger than during the pandemic as whole communities have come under severe mental strain.
Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe FAPS GAICD
President