Medicare Referrals | Frequently Asked Questions
Mental Health Treatment Plans (MHTPs)
What is an MHTP?
A Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) is a plan prepared by your GP that assesses your mental health needs and outlines a recommended treatment approach. It is the referral document that allows you to access Medicare rebates for sessions with a psychologist.
Does an MHTP expire?
No. As of November 2025, an MHTP does not expire and does not need to be renewed each year. Your plan remains valid indefinitely. A new MHTP is only required if your diagnosis changes significantly.
Who can prepare an MHTP?
From November 2025, an MHTP must be prepared by either the GP at your MyMedicare-registered practice, or your usual medical practitioner — that is, the GP or clinic that has provided the majority of your care over the past 12 months or will do so in the next 12 months. This change is designed to support continuity of care between your physical and mental health.
How many individual sessions can I access?
You are entitled to up to 10 individual sessions per calendar year (1 January to 31 December). These reset every 1 January, regardless of when your MHTP was originally created.
Sessions are accessed in two stages:
- Initial referral: your GP refers you for an initial course of up to 6 sessions.
- Further sessions: after completing your initial sessions, you can return to your GP for a re-referral for up to 4 additional sessions, bringing your total to 10 for the year. Your GP does not need to formally review your plan to do this — they simply provide a new referral.
Your psychologist will write to your GP at the end of each course of treatment to update them on your progress and support continuity of care.
What if I still need support at the end of the year?
Your 10 session allocation resets on 1 January each year. Your GP can refer you for a new course of treatment at any point — they do not need to wait until the new year to write the referral, though you will need to wait until 1 January to use any new sessions if you have already reached your annual limit.
It is a common misconception that patients must wait until the anniversary of their original MHTP before accessing sessions in a new year. This is not the case — your sessions reset on 1 January regardless of when your plan was created.
Can I use Medicare sessions for a different diagnosis?
If your diagnosis changes significantly, your GP will prepare a new MHTP. Generally, a new MHTP should not be created within 12 months of the previous one unless clinically required.
Group Therapy Sessions Under an MHTP
Am I entitled to group therapy sessions?
Yes. In addition to your 10 individual sessions, you are entitled to up to 10 group therapy sessions per calendar year under an MHTP. Group sessions are completely separate to your individual session allocation — attending a group does not reduce the number of individual sessions available to you.
Does my referral need to specifically mention group therapy?
No. If your referral does not specify whether it is for individual or group therapy, you are free to choose either. Your GP may note a preference but is not required to specify group therapy for you to access it.
What counts as a group therapy session?
Group therapy sessions under the MHTP are structured, therapeutic groups run by an eligible mental health professional. They do not include family therapy or couple therapy sessions, which are separate.
Eating Disorder Treatment Plans (EDTPs)
What is an EDTP?
An Eating Disorder Treatment Plan (EDTP) is a Medicare plan specifically for people with a diagnosed eating disorder. It provides access to a higher number of funded psychological treatment sessions than a standard MHTP, reflecting the complexity and intensity of eating disorder treatment.
Who is eligible?
Eligibility depends on your diagnosis:
- Anorexia Nervosa: automatically eligible.
- Bulimia Nervosa, Binge Eating Disorder, or OSFED: eligible if you score 3 or higher on the Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) and meet at least 2 of 5 specified clinical indicators. Your GP will assess this with you.
- Avoidant-Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID): not currently eligible for an EDTP.
How many sessions can I access?
An EDTP provides up to 40 psychological treatment sessions over a 12-month period. These can be a combination of individual and group sessions. Sessions are released in stages, subject to reviews:
- Sessions 1–10: accessible following preparation of your EDTP.
- Sessions 11–20: accessible following a GP review.
- Sessions 21–40: accessible only after a review by both your GP and a psychiatrist or paediatrician. It is strongly recommended that you book this specialist appointment early, as wait times can be lengthy.
Your psychologist will write to your GP at the end of each 10-session course to update them on your progress and inform the next review.
Does an EDTP expire?
Yes — unlike an MHTP, an EDTP is valid for 12 months exactly from the date it is created. This is a rolling 12-month period, not a calendar year. If you require ongoing treatment after 12 months, your GP can prepare a new plan.
Any sessions not used within the 12-month period cannot be carried over to a new plan. At the 12 month date, the plan will no longer exist and further rebates cannot be applied without a new plan.
Can I use an MHTP and an EDTP at the same time?
Generally, no. Once an EDTP is in place, a new or reviewed MHTP should not be prepared except in exceptional circumstances. Any psychological sessions accessed under an MHTP before or after your EDTP starts will count toward your 40-session EDTP total.
GP Chronic Condition Management Plans (CCMPs)
What is a CCMP?
A GP Chronic Condition Management Plan (CCMP) — previously known as a Chronic Disease Management Plan or Enhanced Primary Care Plan — is a Medicare plan for people with a chronic medical condition that has been, or is likely to be, present for at least 6 months. It provides access to a small number of subsidised allied health sessions, which can include psychology.
How many sessions can I access?
Up to 5 Medicare-subsidised allied health sessions per calendar year. These 5 sessions are shared across all allied health providers — for example, if you use 2 sessions with a physiotherapist, you have 3 remaining for psychology or other services.
The Medicare rebate under a CCMP is the same regardless of whether you see a psychologist or clinical psychologist (currently approximately $61.80 per session), which differs from the MHTP where the rebate varies by practitioner type.
Can I use a CCMP alongside an MHTP?
Yes. A CCMP and MHTP are separate entitlements and can run simultaneously, provided the CCMP is being used for a chronic physical health condition and the MHTP is being used for a mental health condition. This can be a useful way to access additional psychological support beyond your 10 MHTP sessions.
Can I use a CCMP alongside an EDTP?
You can use a CCMP for a separate chronic physical condition alongside an EDTP. However, any psychological sessions claimed under a CCMP will count toward your total EDTP session limit. Providers are encouraged to keep clear documentation that the CCMP is for a distinct physical condition, not the eating disorder.
This document reflects Medicare rules current as of February 2026. Medicare guidelines are updated periodically — please contact Medicare on 132 011 (patients) or 132 150 (health professionals) to confirm current entitlements.