Medicare Better Access Initiative: How It Works and Which Professionals Can Bill
Understand how the Medicare Better Access initiative works, which mental health professionals can bill, and what it means for your career in Australia.
Medicare Better Access Initiative: How It Works and Which Professionals Can Bill
You’re a registered psychologist, a mental health social worker, or an occupational therapist considering moving into private practice. You’ve heard about the Medicare Better Access initiative, but you’re not entirely sure how it works or whether you qualify to bill. Here’s what you need to know.
The Better Access initiative is the single largest federal investment in mental health treatment outside the hospital system. Since its introduction in 2006, it has funded millions of sessions each year. For practitioners, it’s the primary pathway to seeing clients under Medicare rebates. But not every mental health professional can bill it, and the rules around who can, and for what, are specific.
This article explains how Better Access works, which professionals are eligible, and what you need to do to participate. For a broader overview of registration requirements across roles, read our parent pillar on AHPRA registration.
How the Better Access Initiative Works
The Better Access initiative allows people with a Mental Health Treatment Plan (MHTP) from their GP to access subsidised psychological therapy sessions. The plan must be prepared by a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician, and it refers the patient to an eligible mental health professional.
Patients receive up to 10 individual sessions and 10 group sessions per calendar year. The government sets a fee schedule (the Medicare Benefits Schedule, or MBS) for each service type. The patient claims a rebate, and you as the practitioner invoice Medicare on their behalf.
The key requirement: you must be registered with Medicare as a provider. This involves having a Medicare provider number, which is tied to your AHPRA registration and your practice location.
Which Professionals Can Bill Under Better Access?
Not all mental health roles are eligible. The initiative specifically recognises four professional groups:
| Professional Group | Registration Body | Additional Requirement |
|---|---|---|
| Clinical psychologist | AHPRA (Psychology Board) | Area of practice endorsement in clinical psychology |
| General psychologist | AHPRA (Psychology Board) | General registration; no endorsement needed |
| Accredited Mental Health Social Worker (AMHSW) | AASW | Credentialing as an AMHSW |
| Occupational therapist | AHPRA (Occupational Therapy Board) | Must meet specific training requirements; not all OTs are eligible |
Psychiatrists are not covered under Better Access. They have their own MBS items under the psychiatrist schedule.
Counsellors, psychotherapists, and peer support workers are not eligible to bill Better Access, regardless of their qualifications or registration with voluntary bodies like PACFA or ACA.
What About Other Roles?
If you’re a mental health nurse, you may be able to bill under the Better Access initiative if you are a credentialled mental health nurse. This requires credentialing through the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses (ACMHN). However, mental health nurses more commonly bill under the Better Outcomes program or through the Practice Nurse MBS items.
Exercise physiologists and speech pathologists are not eligible under Better Access. They may provide services under other Medicare programs, such as chronic disease management plans, but not for mental health-specific treatment.
For a full breakdown of how registration requirements differ by role, see our guide on AHPRA registration for mental health professionals.
What You Need to Do to Start Billing
If you’re eligible, here’s the step-by-step process:
- Ensure your AHPRA registration is current and reflects the correct type of registration (e.g., general psychologist, clinical psychologist, occupational therapist).
- Apply for a Medicare provider number. This is done through Services Australia. You’ll need your AHPRA details, your practice address, and your tax file number.
- Register for Medicare online claiming (optional but recommended). This allows you to process claims on the spot via Medicare’s secure system.
- Understand the MBS item numbers relevant to your profession. For example, clinical psychologists use items 80000–80021, while general psychologists use items 80100–80171.
- Keep up with CPD requirements. Your AHPRA registration requires ongoing professional development, and this is also a condition of maintaining your Medicare provider number. See our guide on mental health CPD requirements by role for details.
Common Misconceptions About Better Access
“I can bill Better Access as a counsellor if I’m registered with ACA.”
No. The initiative is restricted to AHPRA-registered health professionals or AASW-credentialed social workers. Voluntary registration bodies do not qualify.
“I can see any client under Better Access.”
Not exactly. The client must have a valid Mental Health Treatment Plan from a GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician. You cannot initiate treatment under Better Access without this.
“Better Access covers all therapy types.”
It covers evidence-based psychological therapy. This includes cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), interpersonal therapy (IPT), and other structured approaches. It does not cover general counselling or support work.
What This Means for Your Career
If you’re a psychologist, AMHSW, or eligible OT, the Better Access initiative is a reliable income stream. It also gives you access to a large client base, since most GPs refer under this program.
If you’re in a role that doesn’t qualify, don’t despair. Many mental health professionals work in other funded settings: the NDIS, state-funded community mental health, employee assistance programs (EAPs), or private practice without Medicare rebates. For example, peer support workers and psychosocial recovery coaches often work through the NDIS. Read our guide on building your mental health career in the NDIS sector for more.
For international professionals, note that Medicare provider numbers are tied to Australian AHPRA registration. If you’re coming from overseas, you’ll need to go through the AHPRA registration process first. See our guide for international mental health professionals.
Conclusion
The Medicare Better Access initiative is the backbone of outpatient mental health funding in Australia. If you’re eligible, it offers a stable, government-backed pathway to treating clients. If you’re not, you still have many career options, but you’ll need to work through other funding streams.
Understanding who can bill and how is essential for planning your career. For a deeper look at the registration and regulatory framework that underpins all of this, revisit our AHPRA registration guide.
Ready to find your next role? Browse current mental health jobs across Australia or sign up for job alerts to get notified when new positions that match your qualifications are posted.
Sources
- Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. *Better Access Initiative*. https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/better-access-initiative
- Services Australia. *Medicare provider number*. https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/medicare-provider-number
- AHPRA. *Psychology Board of Australia*. https://www.psychologyboard.gov.au
- AASW. *Accredited Mental Health Social Worker credential*. https://www.aasw.asn.au/credentialing
- Australian College of Mental Health Nurses. *Credentialling*. https://www.acmhn.org/credentialling