Hume - Mental Health Service System – Referral Options (Updated July 2013)
Patient identified as having a mental disorder or condition
If you are not able to diagnose the condition, or for assistance consider speaking to


a Consultant Psychiatrist for Assessment and Management Plan (MBS 291), or
Centralised Triage via NW Mental Health 1300 874 243


North West Shared Care Team
GP Psych Support Line
MANAGEMENT WITH A MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT PLAN
8371 9800
1800 200 588
MANAGEMENT WITHOUT A MENTAL HEALTH
TREATMENT PLAN
PLUS
North West Mental
Health Shared Care
Team
Better Access to Mental Health
Services (Medicare)
GP refers patient to a Medicare
registered clinical psychologist,
psychologist, occupational
health worker, social worker or
GP for focused psychological
strategies. Patient may be billed
a gap payment.
ATAPS- Access to Allied
Psychological Services
(Better Outcomes in Mental
Health Care Program)
For health care card holders, no
cost to patient.
GP refers patient to an allied
mental health professional
(clinical psychologist,
psychologist, occupational
therapist, social worker, or MH
nurse) registered with the
Northern Melbourne Medicare
Local (NMML) for focused
psychological strategies.
Referrals for NMML catchment
are faxed by GP to 9354 2164 at
Infiniti Health Solutions, who
facilitate the referral to a MH
Allied Health Provider registered
with the program.
Enquiries ph: 9353 4944
Mental Health Nurse
(Incentive Program)
To assist GPs in the
provision of coordinated
clinical care for people
with a severe &
disabling mental illness.
See
www.medicare.gov.au
NB: Govt. freeze on new
growth in 2012/13
Intake Worker
03 8371 9800
Multidisciplinary
Team of Senior MH
Clinicians
Whole of Life MH
Service
Working in Shared
Care Model with
GPs for people
living north of
Gaffney St Coburg
Assessment
Therapy (individual,
couple, family or
group)
Review
Outreach to a no.
of NGO’s
North Western Mental
Health
Central Triage Service:
1300 874 243
Triage will assess and
categorise a person’s
mental health needs, and
provide advice on
appropriate treatment and
management.

Consultant

Youth (ORYGEN Youth
Health)

Adult Mental Health
Services

Aged
* Referral can be made for
consultation services for
people living south of
Gaffney St.
Community Support Services
GP refers patient to mental
health community support
services (including CHS) for:
 Psychiatric Disability
Rehabilitation Support
Services (PDRSS)
o Dianella
o Nth West Community
Resource Exchange
o Merri Community
Health
o PHAMS Personal
Helpers & Mentors
Service
 24 hour telephone support
 Alcohol and drug services
 Aboriginal Health (VAHS)
USING A MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT PLAN - WHICH MBS ITEMS CAN BE USED?

Preparation of GP Mental Health Treatment Plan - MBS Item 2715, 2717, 2700, 2701)
GP assesses the patient (including mental health diagnosis) and discusses mental health concerns, referral and
treatment options, inc appropriate support services. (Max once every 12 months*)

Review of GP Mental Health Treatment Plan - MBS Item 2712
Review patient progress against care plan, modify if required. Initial review should occur 4-24 weeks after initial care
plan developed, if required a second review at 3 months following first review. (Two reviews in a 12 month period*)


GP Mental Health Care Consultation - MBS Item 2713 or
Standard Consultation - MBS Item 23 or 36
Ongoing management of the patient where consult is primarily for a mental health issue, providing treatment advice
or referral (not Better Access). Not used for development/review of mental health treatment plan. (No restrictions)
(* Except in Exceptional Circumstances – change in the condition or care circumstances of the patient)
Community
Health
Services
Dianella Broadmeadows
8345 5678
Meadow
Heights
9302 8888
Craigieburn
9308 1222
Broadmeadows
9302 1780
Merri Coburg
9350 4000
Fawkner
9357 2444
Glenroy
9304 9200
PRIVATE ALLIED
Mental Health
Providers
At cost to
patient
 Psychiatrist
 Clinical
Psychologists
 Psychologist
 Social Worker
 Occupational
Therapist
 Mental Health
Nurse
Without a mental health
treatment plan - Which MBS items
can be used?
 GP Mental Health Care
Consultation
MBS Item 2713 (20+ min) or
 Standard Consultation
MBS Item 23 or 36
GP assesses all health concerns. With
the patient, GP develops a pathway
of care that does not include
(claiming) a MH Treatment Plan.
(Based on original created by Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice)
Management Advice
Diagnosis, Assessment &
Hume - Mental Health Service System – Referral Options (Updated July 2013)
Service
GP Psych Support Line
Phone: 1800 200 588
Fax:
1800 012 422
www.psychsupport.com.au
Private Consultant Psychiatrist
Better Access to Mental Health Services
(Medicare)
Primary Care
Find a Psychologist:
http://www.psychology.org.au/FindaPsychologist
Find a Mental Health OT:
http://www.ausot.com.au
Find a Mental Health Social Worker:
http://www.aasw.asn.au/membersdirectory
Service
ATAPS- Access to Allied Psychological
Services
(Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care
Program)
Private Allied Mental Health Providers
Northern or North West Area Mental
Health Service
Centralised Triage Service (via
NorthWestern Mental Health:
1300 874 243
Youth Mental Health Services
(15 – 24Yrs)
Children’s Mental Health Services
Royal Children’s Hospital (under 15 yrs)
Aged (People 65+ with severe mental
illness)
Description
North West Mental Health - Multi disciplinary team supports GPs in the assessment and
management of patients with a mental health condition.
Shared Care Team
- Patient must have a GP mental health treatment plan (2715,
(2717, 2700, 2701)
- Patient eligible to access Medicare rebates for up to 10
individual sessions and/or 10 group services from a clinical
psychologist or other allied mental health professional in a
calendar year.
- Exceptional circumstances (change in condition or care
circumstances), additional 6 sessions. (ie total 16)for 2012
calendar year only
- Patient may be billed a gap payment.
Mental Health Nurse
Incentive Program
(Medicare funded)
- Consultations with a senior clinician. Assessments, review and up
to 18 sessions of therapy can be offered.
- Team does not provide a crisis service, long term case
management, medical reports for Work Cover or TAC , or legal
reports for court cases
Drug and Alcohol Clinical - 24 hour specialist telephone consultancy service on clinical
management of alcohol and drug issues.
Advisory Service (DACAS)
Intake and information
Phone: 8371 9800
Phone: 1800 812 804
Mental Health Nurses are
engaged directly by some
general practices.
NB: Govt freeze on
program growth beyond
2012/13 levels
See
http://www.medicareaustrali
a.gov.au/provider/
Administered by Infiniti Health Solutions
for the Northern Melbourne Medicare
Local.
Phone: (03) 9353 4944
Fax:
(03) 9354 2164
Specialist Services
Description
- Free patient management advice from a psychiatrist within 24
hours.
- GPs can request advice in:
o General adult psychiatry
o Child and adolescent psychiatry
o Old age psychiatry
Dual diagnosis/drug and alcohol
- Referral to a consultant psychiatrist by a GP for an assessment
and management plan (MBS Item 291).
- Psychiatrist Referral Directory available at:
www.racgp.org.au/psychiatristdatabase
Free services for patients funded through Medicare. Patient
eligibility: Currently receiving treatment for a mental illness with
current GP mental health treatment plan, GP or private psychiatrist
is principally responsible for patients clinical mental health care
AND
- Condition causes significant disablement to patients social,
personal & occupational functioning AND
- Has had or is at risk of having admission to psychiatric facility,
AND
- Patient expected to require treatment for up to two years, AND
Patient interested in receiving additional support from a Mental
Health Nurse.
- Patient must have a GP Mental Health Treatment Plan.
- Eligible patients are health care card holders or women with
perinatal depression, or children under 12 yrs or ATSI or
patients affected by the Victorian bushfires, or people at risk
of suicide. No cost
- Patient eligible to access up to 12 individual sessions in a
calendar year (6 sessions followed by a GP Review & rereferral) from an allied mental health professional registered
with Infiniti’s program. Additional 6 sessions in exceptional
circumstances.
Other than through Better Access to Mental Health and
ATAPS; will not require MH Treatment Plan (No Diagnosis
required). At cost to patients, or claimable through private
Health Ins.
Early Psychosis,
Prevention &
Intervention Centre
(EPPIC)
- A service of the ORYGEN Youth Health
Ph: 1800 888 320
- This specialist service provides early intervention and
case management for young people between 15 - 24 years
of age, who are at risk of developing a psychosis or who
have experienced a first episode of psychosis
To make a referral or for a response for people with mental
health issues in a crisis, advice on
 Crisis Assessment
 Youth Early Psychosis Service (Northern only)
 Adult Mental Health Services & Aged (after hours)
In an emergency where a response is required within 2 hours
call 000
Psychiatric Disability
Rehabilitation Support
Services (PDRSS)
- Triage 1800 888 320 (until 10pm and then Triage 1300 874
243)
- 1800 445 511 9.00am – 5.00pm Mon-Fri (then refer to ED at
RCH)
Statewide Specialist
Services
- Non-clinical specialist mental health support services
- 16 yrs+, serious mental illness and associated significant psychiatric
disability. Recovery and empowerment model to maximise
opportunities to live successfully in the community.
- Written referral for diagnosed mental health condition
Local PDRSS providers available in North West:
www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/disability
www.health.vic.gov.au/mentalhealth/services/statewide.htm
eg Forensic, Eating disorders, Spectrum, Mother and Baby, Brain
Disorders, Neuropsychiatry, Dual disability, EPPIC
-
Private Consultant
Psychiatrist
1300427288 9-4.30 M-F then defaults to 1300 874 243
APPATT 8371 8200
- Available to patients with or without a GP mental health
treatment plan, or formal referral.
- At cost to patients.
- Psychiatrist Referral Directory available to RACGP members at:
www.racgp.org.au/psychiatristdatabase
(Based on original created by Central West Gippsland Division of General Practice)