Mental health item conflict.

Australian Doctor,  February, 2007  

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By Sophie McNamara

PRESSURE on GPs to provide referrals so patients can access new mental health rebates may be undermining the role of GPs as gatekeepers of the health system, medical leaders say.

Under the new MBS items for mental health introduced in November last year, GPs must complete a full mental health management plan, rather than simply writing a referral, if patients are to access rebates for clinical psychology.

Take-up of the new items (numbers 2710-2713) has been strong, with more than 60,000 claims for a mental health care plan made in the first two months ...

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