I would like to get more sessions but my GP told me to wait for a month for the care plan review

[HenryC]

Hi all, I got my mental health care plan from my GP in early October this year. And now I already have 6 amazing sessions with my Psychologist.

Today I went to see my GP, hoping to get my care plan reviewed and get my 7th-10th sessions under mental health care plan. However, my GP told me based on the medicare guideline, the care plan review has to be at least 60 days after the first referral date, so I was told to come back in December. To me, this time restriction is very weird, did anyone encounter this situation before? Is there really such a rule? I really hope to see my psychologist soon. Thanks!

[mocha delight]

I’ll be following this closely as I had my 4th appointment with my psychologist today and got my 5th & 6th appointment already booked in.

[sunnyl20]

Hi HenryC,

I don't remember encountering this time restriction when I used it earlier this year. I would encourage you to contact Medicare on 132 011 to clarify your concerns.

Hope you are able to see your psychologist soon.

Take care.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi HenryC,

Welcome to the forums and thank you for your post.

Unfortunately, your GP is right in that it has to be a minimum of two weeks before they review the care plan to add more appointments.

What you can do though is book more appointments ahead so that you have the care plan ready to go.

The other really good news is that you can now claim 20 sessions instead of 10 due to Covid-19.

Hope this helps

rt

[HenryC]

Hi romantic_thi3f thanks for your reply,

"your GP is right in that it has to be a minimum of two weeks before they review the care plan to add more appointments." -> Do you mean two weeks or two months?

Thank you!

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi HenryC,

Sorry, scratch that! -

Review of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan (item 2712). Item 2712 is for an attendance by a GP to review a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan or to review a psychiatrist assessment and management plan.
Recommended frequency is an initial review between four weeks and six months after the
completion of the GP Mental Health Treatment Plan and, if required, a further review at
least three months after the first review (For reference, 2712 is the Medicare code)

and

The recommended frequency for the review service, allowing for variation in patients' needs, is:
· an initial review, which should occur between four weeks to six months after the completion of a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan; and if required, a further review can occur three months after the first review.

Here's my sources if you want to print it out: https://icp.org.au/wp-content/uploads/Mental-Health-GP-Factsheet-2.pdf http://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=2715&qt=item

rt

[HenryC]

Thank you so much romantic_thi3f!

[Aunt Jobiska]

Fantastic. On this, the GP was BS-ing the poster... bottom line there is room for variability based on clinical need AND two months isn't in there anywhere.

Your do know you can go to a different GP for the review, you're not stuck with the initial referring doctor? You'll have sorted this out months ago though, hope it went well.