Medicare Mental Health Care Plan

Mental Health Care Plans for kids, decoded.

A Mental Health Care Plan (MBS item 2715) is your single most useful Medicare pathway to get psychology sessions rebated for a child. Here's how it works, who it's for, and how to make it happen.

What a Mental Health Care Plan actually is

A Mental Health Care Plan (MBS item 2715) is a structured document your GP completes with you. It's the Medicare pathway to access rebated psychology sessions for your child. It allows up to 10 psychology sessions per calendar year — usually 6 initial sessions, reviewed at the 6-session mark, then up to 4 more if helpful.

The critical thing to understand: the plan is not a diagnosis of your child. It's a pathway document. Your GP completes it when a child shows signs of a diagnosable mental health condition or — this is the part many parents don't realise — when a child is at clinical risk of developing one. Clinical risk means the patterns you're seeing are causing distress or impairment, even if a full diagnosis isn't yet made.

In plain terms: your child doesn't need to be "officially diagnosed" with anxiety, depression, or ADHD before you can access psychology support through this plan. The concern itself, documented by your GP, is enough.

Who it's for

A Mental Health Care Plan works for children 4 and older. It covers:

Anxiety (generalised, social, separation, specific phobias)
Depression or low mood
Behavioural concerns (aggression, defiance, non-compliance)
Suspected ADHD (while you're waiting for paediatric assessment)
Adjustment concerns (big life changes, transitions)
Grief, loss, or trauma responses
School refusal or avoidance
Self-harm or concerning thoughts
Eating concerns or disordered eating patterns

What it does NOT cover: the plan is not designed for paediatric ADHD assessment or autism multidisciplinary assessment. Those require different pathways (paediatrician for ADHD; multidisciplinary team for autism). However, psychology support under this plan can help with coping strategies while you wait for those assessments.

Step-by-step: from first thought to first appointment

01. Book a long GP appointment

This is not a standard 10-minute consultation. When you call the practice, say: "I'd like a longer appointment to discuss my child's mental health. We need time to go through a mental health plan." Most GP practices reserve 20–30 minute slots for this. Expect to wait 1–3 weeks depending on availability.

02. Make notes beforehand

Before the appointment, write down:

What patterns are you noticing? (e.g., "refuses to leave the house for school," "loses focus during homework," "gets very anxious in social situations")
How long has this been happening?
What seems to make it worse or better?
What has changed in your child's life recently?
How is it affecting your child's functioning? (school, friendships, family life)
Any school or educator feedback you've received
Any relevant family history (mental health, ADHD, autism)

Bring these notes to the appointment. They help the GP understand the concern quickly and help them complete the plan accurately.

03. The GP completes a screening questionnaire with you

The GP will ask you to complete a screening questionnaire — usually the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for children 4–17, or the Kessler-10 (K10) for older children. Parents typically fill this out for younger children; older kids might contribute. It takes 5–10 minutes. The questions help the GP quantify what you're describing and give them a baseline to compare to in future.

04. The GP writes the Mental Health Care Plan

This takes 20–40 minutes. The GP will:

Document the concern in plain language
Identify support strategies (school support, home strategies, what you're already doing)
Identify a psychologist — you can nominate one if you have someone in mind; if not, the GP will suggest one
Set up to 6 initial sessions with a rebate
Book a review appointment with you (usually 6 weeks later, after the initial 6 sessions)

You leave with a copy of the plan and a referral letter for the psychologist.

05. Book the psychologist

Most psychologists have waitlists. When you call, say you have a Mental Health Care Plan referral from your GP. Average wait is 2–12 weeks depending on whether the psychologist bulk-bills (public wait) or charges private fees (sometimes shorter wait).

About the rebate: Medicare rebates around $96.65 per session for a registered psychologist (current at April 2026, reviewed twice per year). Some psychologists bulk-bill (no gap, you pay nothing). Others charge a gap — you pay the difference between their fee and the rebate. Always ask when you book: "Do you bulk-bill? If not, what's your fee and how much is the gap?"

Rebate amounts change twice per year. For the most current rates, check Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au) or call 13 11 11.

06. After 6 sessions the GP reviews the plan

At the 6-session mark, you have a separate GP appointment (MBS item 2712) to review progress. The GP and psychologist communicate. If the support is helping, you can access up to 4 additional sessions in the same calendar year. If not, the GP might adjust the approach or refer elsewhere.

07. The calendar resets on 1 January

Each year brings a fresh 10-session entitlement. If your child still needs support in the new year, you can request a new plan in early January. The GP can issue it quickly (same-visit turnaround if needed).

What it costs you out-of-pocket

Rebate vs gap

The Medicare rebate for psychology under a Mental Health Care Plan is approximately $96.65 per session (current at April 2026). But you may pay more. Here's why:

Bulk-billed psychologists: You pay nothing out-of-pocket. The psychologist claims the Medicare rebate directly. Shorter choice of providers, longer waits (often 6–12 weeks), usually in community health centres or public services (headspace, community mental health teams). No cost to you.

Private psychologists who gap: You pay an upfront fee (typically $150–$280 per session depending on location and experience). After you pay, you claim the Medicare rebate and receive ~$96.65 back (or request they claim it electronically, reducing your gap). Out-of-pocket: $50–$180 per session. More choice, shorter wait (2–6 weeks).

Always ask the psychologist's fee and gap before booking. If you need to find bulk-billed options, ask your GP — they usually know the community services in your area.

Telehealth rebates

Telehealth psychology sessions attract the same Medicare rebate as in-person sessions if your child has had at least one in-person session with that psychologist in the 12 months prior. After that first face-to-face, you can do follow-up sessions via video or phone and still receive the rebate.

This is useful if your child's psychologist moves or if telehealth is more practical for your family. It does mean the first session usually needs to be in-person.

Where MHCP stops and paediatric assessment starts

Different pathways, different professionals

A Mental Health Care Plan funds psychology support — therapy, coping strategies, parent coaching. It does not fund medical assessment or diagnosis. If your child needs ADHD assessment or autism assessment, you need a different referral and a different professional.

ADHD assessment: Only a paediatrician or psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD and prescribe medication. This requires a separate referral. Waitlists are typically 9–18 months for public paediatricians, 2–8 weeks for private.
Autism assessment: A multidisciplinary team (paediatrician + speech pathologist + occupational therapist, usually) conducts autism assessment. This also requires a separate referral.

The good news: these pathways are parallel, not either-or. While you wait for paediatric assessment, psychology support under the Mental Health Care Plan helps manage anxiety, build coping skills, and support your child. The psychologist can also observe patterns that inform the paediatrician's assessment.

What to ask your GP

Go into the appointment prepared with these questions:

"Can we do a longer appointment so we have time to complete a Mental Health Care Plan?"
"Is my child eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan based on what I'm describing?"
"Do you recommend a psychologist in particular for this kind of concern?"
"Can the referral be for telehealth sessions after the first in-person visit?"
"Is a paediatrician referral also worth doing now, while we explore psychology support?"
"Who will review the plan after 6 sessions?"
"If the first psychologist doesn't feel right, can we try another?"

When it's not the right tool

A Mental Health Care Plan provides support but it is not crisis response. If your child is:

In acute emotional distress or crisis
Expressing thoughts of self-harm or suicide
In immediate danger
Experiencing a significant regression

— do not wait for the plan to take effect. Contact your GP same-day, ring Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800 (ages 5–25, call or text 24/7), or call 000 for emergency.

Your next steps depend on what you're seeing in your child.

Assessment pathway

Psychology support is available now.

A Mental Health Care Plan puts your child in front of a psychologist, with Medicare rebates, while you wait for paediatrician assessment.

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