In this submission, the APS argued that recent Medicare legislative changes—requiring patients to see their ‘usual GP’ and attend in‑person appointments for new Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTPs)—has unintentionally restricted access to mental health care, especially in rural, regional and remote communities.
APS recommendations include:
• Introducing appropriate exemptions to the “usual GP” and in‑person requirements for new MHTPs.
• Restoring clarity around MHTP review processes.
• Allowing psychologists to determine the clinically necessary number of sessions, proposing up to 20 sessions for complex conditions and up to 40 for chronic, high‑impact conditions.
View submission