The new service currently only offers evidence-based resources and self-care tips, but it will eventually offer telehealth appointments.
All Australians over 16 who are either experiencing or at risk of experiencing mild mental health challenges can now access the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing-commissioned Medicare Mental Health Check In.
Whether they find much when they get there is another question.
The new service, which is operated by St Vincent’s, opened its virtual doors on 1 January.
At time of writing, it consists of a website with around 15 different written resources covering topics like “when you can’t sleep” and “how to support someone you care about”.
Each page encourages patients who are feeling unsafe or deeply distressed to contact 000 or go to their nearest emergency department. The pages also contain links to the Medicare Mental Health Line and a map of local Medicare Mental Health Centres.
From 30 March, however, patients will also be able to access telehealth appointments and receive low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy from “trained practitioners” via phone or video.
Trained practitioners, the DoHDA said, include “people with experience in mental health related roles (e.g. psychologists, counsellors), and those who regularly support people facing mental health challenges” who have completed low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy training.
These appointments will be free at point-of-service and will not require a referral from the patient’s regular GP.
More changes to the Medicare Mental Health Check In will come through on 30 May, when a user portal will open and give patients access to self-guided, low-intensity cognitive behavioural therapy modules.
One fact sheet promises that “people will be able to seamlessly switch between guided and self-guided therapy whenever they like, so the care is personal, flexible and responsive”.
Related
Despite “Medicare” being included in the program’s name, it is unclear whether the new service will draw from the Medicare funding pot.
Documentation around the service does not specify that patients must have a Medicare card to be eligible, and the MBS famously does not generally support telehealth consultations between a practitioner and patient who do not have an existing relationship.
The similarly named Medicare Mental Health Clinics also technically do not bill Medicare.
Monash University and the University of Melbourne are set to independently evaluate the Medicare mental health check in.
