GPQ Programs

General Practice Queensland

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Changes to the Better Access Medicare items

From 1 November 2011, Medicare items 2702 and 2710 will be removed from the Medicare Benefits Schedule (MBS) for the preparation of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan, and replaced with four new time tiered items – 2700, 2701, 2715 and 2717.

Patients who have previously seen a GP, who has completed mental health skills training accredited by the General Practice Mental Health Standards Collaboration (GPMHSC) and accessed item 2710 prior to the funding changes, will now be able to access item 2715 (for a consultation between 20 and 39 minutes) or item 2717 (for a consultation of 40 minutes or more). Patients who have previously seen a GP, who has not completed accredited mental health skills training and accessed item 2702 prior to the funding changes, will now have access to item 2700 (for a consultation between 20 and 39 minutes) or item 2701 (for a consultation of 40 minutes or more).

There will also be changes to the MBS fee structure for the GP Mental Health Review item 2712 and the GP Mental Health Consultation item 2713.

For further information on the Better Access Medicare item changes visit www.racgp.org.au/news/44772.


Together we can build a better health system

Last updated: 10/01/2012 Print this page