Is a Mental Health Care Plan the Same as a Referral?
No, a Mental Health Care Plan (MHCP) and a referral are not the same, though they are closely related.
An MHCP is a detailed document prepared by your GP, psychiatrist, or paediatrician. It includes an assessment of your mental health, outlines your treatment goals, and provides a structured plan for accessing services to manage your condition. Importantly, an MHCP allows you to access Medicare-subsidised sessions with allied health professionals such as psychologists under the Better Access initiative.
A referral, by contrast, is a document that allows you to see a specialist, such as a psychiatrist. You do not need an MHCP to obtain a referral to a psychiatrist. A referral can be issued directly by your GP or another specialist, enabling you to consult a psychiatrist under Medicare.
At Wellvue, our psychiatrists can prepare MHCPs and include any necessary referrals to allied health professionals to support your ongoing care.
Related
- What is a Mental Health Care Plan?
- How to Obtain a Mental Health Care Plan
- Who is Eligible for a Mental Health Care Plan?
- Find Out How Many Mental Health Sessions You Have Left
- How Long is a Mental Health Care Plan Valid?
- How Much Does a Mental Health Care Plan Cost?
- What If My Mental Health Care Plan Expires or I Don’t Use It?