COAG Initiatives & Other Programs
Better Access to Mental Health Care
The Better Access program was introduced on 1 November 2006 as part of the Council of Australian Government’s plan to improve mental health services in the community. The Better Access program enables clinical psychologists, registered psychologists, social workers and occupational therapists with additional mental health training, to register with Medicare Australia and provide Medicare rebatable services to patients referred by General Practitioners and Paediatricians. Services provided under Better Access are similar to those provided under the Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) program; that is 6 + 6 individual therapy sessions (and an additional 6 sessions in exceptional circumstances) as well as 6 + 6 group sessions. General Practitioners need to complete a Mental Health Treatment Plan and claim MBS item number 2710 (or 2702 if they have not completed accredited Mental Health Skills Training) before allied health professionals are able to claim for therapy sessions.
On 1 January 2010 the Australian Government amended the Medicare Schedule relating to Mental Health Treatment Plans. GPs need to have undergone accredited Mental Health Skills Training to claim MBS item number 2710. If they have not completed training then GPs need to claim MBS item number 2702 which will result in a lower rebate. For more information see:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-ba
Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program
Divisions, General Practices, Psychiatry Practices and Aboriginal Medical Services are organisations that can apply to be part of the Mental Health Nurse Incentive Program (MHNIP), enabling them to engage a credentialed mental health nurse. The MHNIP provides on-going care for patients with more severe and chronic mental illness and who are being managed in the community. Eligible organisations need to apply to be part of the incentive program and engage a nurse for up to 10 sessions a week. While there is no specific Medicare item number for this program payments are made via Medicare on a sessional basis. For more information see the following websites:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/work-pr-mhnip
Mental Health Support for Drought Affected Communities Initiative
This initiative provides funding to build capacity of drought affected communities to respond to the psychological impact of drought. The majority of funding has been allocated to eligible rural and remote Divisions to provide community outreach, community capacity building and crisis counselling. In the May 2010 Federal Budget it was announced that funding for the Initiative would continue for another 12 months. For more information see:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental
NSW Health, Drought Mental Health Assistance Program (DMHAP)
The Drought Mental Health Assistance Project was established in 2007 by the Centre for Rural & Remote Mental Health of the University of Newcastle and funded by the NSW Government through NSW Health. The aims of program were to determine the effects of the drought on the mental health of individuals and rural communities and to develop strategies to cope with these. In 2008-09 the aims of the program expanded to cover the more general effects of climate change. The program has seen a wide range of activities to support rural communities, these include:
For further information see the following website:
http://www.crrmh.com.au/development/current.xml
Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas Program
This program provides more allied and nursing mental health services in designated rural and remote areas, several of which are in NSW. For more information see:
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/mental-drought
Rural Primary Health Services Program
On 1 July 2008 the Office of Rural Health was created to drive rural health reform in response to the findings of the Audit of Health Workforce in Rural & Regional Australia. The Office has since undertaken a review of rural programs and consolidated four separate programs into the Rural Primary Health Services (RPHS)Program. The RPHS Program brings together the:
Australian Standard Geographic Classification System (ASGC)
The Federal Budget 2009-10 included an announcement that the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas System would be replaced by the Australian Standards Geographical Classification System. This system has five Remoteness Areas RA) spatial units. These are:
Remoteness Areas (RAs) are aggregations of ABS Collection Districts which share common characteristics of remoteness. For further information on program incentives affected by the ASGC System go to:
http://www.doctorconnect.gov.au/internet/otd/Publishing.nsf/Content/RA-intro
headspace
headspace is Australia’s National Youth Mental Health Foundation and provides mental health, drug and alcohol and sexual health support, information and services for young people aged 12 -25 years and their families. There are 30 ‘one stop centres’ throughout Australia, nine of which are in NSW. As part of the Federal Governments’ Health Reform package Health Minister Roxon announced in April 2010 that another $78 million will be available to establish 30 additional centres across Australia. In July 2010 the locations of the first 10 of the new centres were announced and two of these will be in NSW. For more information about headspace see:
Personal Helpers and Mentors Program
Personal Helpers and Mentors (PHAMS) Initiative aims to provide increased opportunities for recovery for people who have a significant functional limitation resulting from a severe mental illness by helping them to overcome social isolation and increasing their connections to the community. Responsibility for the PHAMS Initiative rests with the Australian Government Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. The program takes a strengths-based, recovery approach to supporting people whose lives are affected by severe mental illness. It assists people aged 16 years and over who are unable to manage their daily activities (such as self-care, household responsibilities, managing their finances) or live independently in the community (ie. have unstable accommodation), are unable to use public transport, or are unable to engage in social activities because of the severe impact mental illness has on their lives. The PHAMS program is delivered by non-government organisations that are experienced in achieving outcomes for people with mental illness
http://www.health.gov.au/internet/mentalhealth/publishing.nsf/Content/pham-1