Mental Health
Mental ill health is one of the leading causes of non-fatal burden of disease and injury in Australia. Mental illness can impact on a person’s development, education and career, reducing their quality of life. Mental ill health was estimated to account for 13% of the disease burden in Australia, with anxiety and depression, alcohol abuse and personality disorders accounting for almost three-quarters of this burden. However, only 7% of the burden from mental disorders is due to mortality, most of which is accounted for by fatal outcomes associated with substance abuse1. For information on adolescent mental health click on link.
The aim of the Mental Health program is to assist General Practice by:
- Assisting GPs to understand the Mental Health Care Treatment Plan (2710), including provision of templates.
- Providing Mental Health assessment tools.
- Improving teamwork and networking between GPs, psychiatrists, psychologists and other Mental Health workers
- Providing referral pathway information for Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol services
- Mental Health skills training opportunities (see Events Calendar)
- Resources and updates on changes in Mental Health
- Liaison with General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC), GPNSW and relevant professional bodies
- Providing information and training for Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS)
- Organising GP clinical attachments to Royal North Shore Hospital
Mental Health Treatment Plans
The Government has announced changes to the Medicare scheduled fee for Mental Health Treatment Plans, MBS item no. 2710, coming into effect as at 1 January 2010.
The new changes require GPs to undergo Level 1 Mental Health Skills Training in order to claim the higher Medicare rebate. GPs who have not completed Skills Training will be able to claim $125.95 under the MBS item no. 2702. GPs who have completed Skills Training will be able to claim $160.45 under the MBS item no. 2710.
GPs who have undertaken training since 1 July 2001 under the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Program will be able to claim the higher MBS rebate. The RACGP is aware that some GPs have had their claims for item no. 2710 rejected. Medicare Australia has informed the GPMHSC that all coding has been completed for those GPs reported to Medicare up to 13 January 2010 to allow them to claim item no. 2710. If you have verified your mental health skills status and a claim has been rejected from 1 January 2010, please resubmit this claim. For any questions, please call GPMHSC on (03) 8699 0554. Training undertaken after 31 December 2009 will be reported to Medicare Australia in the last week of January and, thereafter, on a monthly basis. To find out if you are up-to-date with Mental Health Skills training contact GPMHSC on (03) 8699 0554 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Mental Health Skills Training
Mental Health Skills Training is an interactive course focussing on the assessment, planning and review cycle of common Mental Health conditions and the development of Mental Health Treatment Plans. The course involves both consumers and carers. Mental Health Skills Training requires a minimum of six continuous hours training in a GPMHSC accredited course. The Northern Sydney General Practice Network provides face-to-face Mental Health Skills Training and information about on-line courses.
Mental Health Skills Training – Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS)
GPs who have an interest in Mental Health and wish to provide mental health services to patients, may do so under the FPS. To register as a provider of FPS, GPs need to successfully complete GPMHSC endorsed Mental Health Skills Training (previously called level 1) & FPS Skills Training (previously called level 2). FPS skills training involves 20 hours of training.
Only FPS trained GPs can claim item numbers 2721, 2723, 2725 and 2727 in a practice that:
- Is accredited or
- Participating in the Practice Incentive Program (PIP).
General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) reports to Medicare Australia details of GPs who have met the training requirements to remain as registered FPS providers each triennium.
GPs registered as providers of FPS in the 2005-2007 triennium, must complete an FPS course during the 2008-2010 triennium to remain compliant. The Network provides regular ALMs in Mental Health for GPs. For further information click on the FPS fact sheet.
Links for Resources
- Referral Pathways – Drug & Alcohol
- Referral Pathways - Mental Health
- Focused Psychological Strategies (FPS) Fact Sheet
- FPS Pathway
- Department of Health & Ageing - Fact Sheet 1
- Department of Health & Ageing - Fact Sheet 2
- NSGPN Fact Sheet
- Mental Health Treatment Plan (Item No. 2710) Template
- Brochures on accessing Mental Health in Korean, Chinese and Italian
- Memory Loss - brochure
- DCRC Flow Chart
- GPCOP Information
- GPCOP - About Us
Useful Websites
- RACGP Mental Health
- Australian Psychological Society - Find a psychologist
- Department of Health and Ageing
- Mental Health Association NSW
- Head Space
- Australian Drug Information Network
- Black Dog Institute
- Black Dog Institute - Mood Assessment Program (MAP)
- Beyond Blue
- Youth Beyond Blue
- Child Brain
- Reach Out Australia
- Alzheimers Australia
- Blue Pages Depression Information
- MBS Item Number 2710 Information Sheet
Last Updated (Friday, 11 November 2011 10:52)