Medicare Rebates, GP Referrals and Mental Health Treatment Plans: A Guide.

If you’ve been thinking about starting therapy, cost is probably one of the first things on your mind. The good news is that, through Medicare’s Better Access initiative, you can claim rebates on psychology sessions every calendar year, once you have the right paperwork in place.

This guide covers what referrals and Mental Health Treatment Plans are, how to get one, and how the rebates work.

What is a Mental Health Treatment Plan?

A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) (previously called a Mental Health Care Plan) is a written plan developed by your GP with you. It records that you’ve been assessed as having a mental health condition that requires treatment, and refers you to a mental health professional for a set number of sessions.

The MHTP and the referral from the GP, are the key that unlocks Medicare rebates. Without these, you can still see a psychologist privately, but you won’t be eligible for the rebates. The plan is yours, and you can take it to any eligible practitioner. The Medicare rebates are available with registered psychologists, clinical psychologists and accredited mental health social workers.

Who is eligible

To qualify for Medicare rebates under Better Access, you need:

• A valid Medicare card.
• An assessment by your GP (or in some cases a psychiatrist or paediatrician) of your mental health concerns, and whether they meet Medicare criteria.
• A Mental Health Treatment Plan in place.

Conditions covered are broad, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, adjustment difficulties, eating disorders, and panic disorders. You don’t need a diagnosis before seeing your GP; that’s part of what the appointment is for.

How to get an MHTP

Book an appointment with your GP. Tell your GP practice you’d like to discuss your mental health and ask about a Mental Health Treatment Plan. Most practices will book a 30 to 45 minute slot. If you don’t have a regular GP, you can also access online GPs, including for bulk billed appointments. 

Have the conversation. Your GP will ask how you’ve been feeling, for how long, and how it’s affecting your life. They may use a short questionnaire to assess how you are doing.

Receive the plan and referral. If your GP provides a MHTP and psychologist referral, they prepare the document and refer you to a mental health professional. You can ask for a specific clinician or practice, including Equana Minds. Your GP doesn’t choose for you.

Book your therapy sessions. Book your session with your chosen Equana Minds psychologist or social worker, then upload your MHTP and referral to the portal. After your session, Equana Minds will handle the Medicare claim on your behalf.

Sessions and rebates

Under Better Access, eligible patients can claim a Medicare rebate for up to 10 individual therapy sessions per calendar year.

The plan typically refers you for an initial block of up to 6 sessions. After that, your GP reviews how things are going and can refer you for the remaining sessions. Sessions can be in person or via telehealth at the same rebate rate, which is why platforms like Equana Minds can deliver Medicare-rebated therapy entirely online.

Unused sessions don’t roll over. On 1 January each year, your session count resets.

Current rebate amounts (2026)

These are the standard Medicare rebates per individual session, current as of 2026:

Provider type	Medicare rebate
Clinical Psychologist	$145.25
Registered Psychologist	$98.97
Accredited Mental Health Social Worker	$87.24

The rebate is what Medicare pays back. The gap fee is the difference between what the clinician charges and the rebate. For example, if the fee for a clinical psychologist is $270 and Medicare rebates $145.25, your gap fee is $124.75.

Some clinicians bulk bill, which means they charge exactly the rebate amount and you pay nothing out of pocket.

Which clinicians does Medicare cover?

Covered under Better Access: Clinical psychologists, registered psychologists, Accredited Mental Health Social Workers (AMHSW), occupational therapists with mental health endorsement, GPs providing focused psychological strategies, and psychiatrists (under separate Medicare pathways).

Not covered: Counsellors and psychotherapists. They can be highly qualified and an excellent fit, but Medicare doesn’t currently rebate their services under Better Access. Some private health insurance extras policies do cover them.

If Medicare rebates are essential to making therapy affordable for you, you’ll want to see a psychologist, clinical psychologist, or accredited mental health social worker.

Reviews and renewals

After your initial block of sessions, your GP conducts a review to see how therapy is going, usually after six sessions. Following the review, your GP can refer you for the remaining four sessions in the calendar year.

You don’t need an entirely new MHTP each year, but you do need to see your GP for a referral renewal to access rebates for new sessions.

Private health insurance

Many private health insurance policies with extras cover include a benefit for psychology, counselling, or social work sessions. A few things to know:

• You can’t claim both Medicare and private health insurance for the same session.
• Private health insurance can cover clinicians Medicare won’t, including counsellors and psychotherapists.
• Some people use Medicare for their first 10 sessions, then switch to private health insurance later in the year.

Coverage varies between funds. Contact your insurer to confirm what’s covered.

Common questions

Do I need a diagnosis before seeing my GP? No. The GP will assess you during the appointment.

Can I get an MHTP via telehealth? Yes, in many cases.

What if I don’t feel comfortable with my GP? Your MHTP can be created by any GP. If you’d prefer to discuss your mental health with someone who shares your language or cultural background, you can book with them.

Can I change therapists partway through my plan? Yes. If the fit isn’t right, ask your GP to redirect your referral.

Will my employer or anyone else find out? No. Medicare records are private.

What if I’d prefer to do therapy in another language? You can choose a clinician who speaks your preferred language. Working with someone who shares your language and cultural background can make a real difference to how comfortably you can express what you’re going through.

How Equana Minds works with Medicare

Equana Minds is an Australian telehealth practice offering therapy with psychologists, clinical psychologists, accredited mental health social workers, counsellors, and psychotherapists, across multiple languages and cultural backgrounds.

If you have a Mental Health Treatment Plan, you can use it with us to access Medicare rebates for sessions with our psychologists, clinical psychologists, or accredited mental health social workers. Sessions are conducted via secure telehealth, so you can access culturally and linguistically matched care from anywhere in Australia.

Our intake is straightforward: you tell us what you’re looking for, we match you with a clinician, and you upload your MHTP referral for your first session. We handle the Medicare claim on your behalf, and the rebate is deposited directly into your bank account.

For session fees, see our Pricing and Rebates pages. If you’re ready to get started, explore our Browse Therapists or Get Matched pages to find the right therapist for you.

This article is general information about Medicare’s Better Access initiative and is current as of 2026. Rebate amounts and eligibility criteria are set by the Australian Government and may change. For the most up-to-date official information, visit Services Australia (servicesaustralia.gov.au) or Medicare Mental Health (medicarementalhealth.gov.au). This article isn’t medical advice. Please speak with your GP about your individual circumstances.