(Cth) Restore Better Access to 20 Mental Health Care Sessions Per Year

Devathri Nanayakkara & Zaina Zulfiqar
Jul 12
7 min read

Updated: Jul 22

Author: Devathri Nanayakkara & Zaina Zulfiqar | Publish date: 12/7/2026 | Updated: 22/7/26

Content Warning: Mental health struggles

P: In Australia, the Medicare-funded Better Access mental health treatment is limited to 10 sessions per year per claimant.
S: The Minister for Health should amend the Medicare Benefits Schedule under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) to increase annual Medicare-funded mental health care sessions from 10 to 20 per claimant.
E: Australian Association of Psychologists Inc: ‘Restore Better Access to 20 sessions per year’.

Problem Identification:

The Medicare Benefits Schedule under the Health Insurance Act 1973 (Cth) states that ‘through Better Access, eligible patients can claim a Medicare benefit for up to 10 individual and 10 group therapy mental health treatment services per calendar year.’

According to the Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi), this means that persons ‘with complex or chronic mental health conditions are not getting the care they need.’ They argued that the current cap ‘forces patients to stop treatment before it’s clinically appropriate’, ‘places them at greater risk of crisis’ and increases pressure on hospitals.

Context:

The Better Access Initiative (BAI) refers to an Australian Government program that provides ‘Medicare benefits to eligible people, so they can access selected mental health treatment services’. According to the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, the BAI is ‘available to patients who have been assessed by a [general practitioner], psychiatrist or paediatrician as having a mental disorder requiring at least moderate care needs’. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2022), one in 5 Australians experienced a mental health disorder in the previous 12 months.

According to AAPi, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Better Access cap was temporarily increased from 10 to 20 sessions, and was reverted back to 10 in January 2023 as planned. According to a government-commissioned review in 2022, Evaluation of Better Access, the majority of consumers and providers believed that ‘the additional 10 sessions should [have] be[en] retained as a standard’.

Arguments:

According to Dr Elizabeth Seely-Wait, a clinical psychologist, ‘the change [reducing the cap from 20 to 10 sessions] had a profound impact on many of her clients’ and ‘prolonged their therapy’. Dr Seely-Wait and Dr Catriona Davis-McCabe, president of the Australian Psychological Society (APS), added that the reduction in sessions pushed patients to space out or ration their sessions. Kate Mason, whose son experiences post-traumatic stress disorder, revealed that the cut to sessions left them with ‘no choice but to visit fortnightly instead [of weekly] … ultimately prolong[ing] his recovery.’ Sharon Lawn, Executive Director of Lived Experience Australia, further stated that some patients suffer as they use up the 10 sessions within the first half of the year and ‘cannot afford to continue care as a full fee-paying patient.’

Tamara Cavanett, ex-President of APS, argued that ‘there was never any evidence that 10 sessions was best practise to treat a mental health condition.’ According to Dr Davis-McCabe, ‘research shows us that when you have a moderate or complex mental health disorder, you need at least 18-20 sessions to treat it.’ She highlighted that ‘by cutting to 10 sessions’ patients with mental health issues ‘are half-treated’.

The government in 2024 stated that continuing additional mental health care sessions was ‘unfair’ as they restricted access for some individuals. In particular, they highlighted that people from regional, rural and low socio-economic backgrounds, and new users were missing out. However, Dr Davis-McCabe argued that ‘slashing subsidised psychology sessions was not going to help those already missing out on support’, since the core issue is the ‘psychology workforce.’ She further added that the BAI ‘needs to be improved in some areas … but the answer to that is not cutting the services to everyone.’

Professor Patrick McGorry, the executive director of Orygen, disputed the claim that the cut will save costs, saying it ‘will not save money.’ He explained that this is because ‘Better Access clinicians will fill those places with new patients [accessing their 10]’. According to him, the $120 million annual cost of those extra sessions accessed by 15% of patients ‘is a very minor issue in the landscape of mental health funding.’

Advice/Solution Identification:

The AAPi and the APS have called to restore Better Access to 20 sessions annually. AAPi has argued that ‘this change is essential for people experiencing complex or chronic mental health issues and will reduce pressure on hospitals and crisis services’.

Precedent:

There is international precedent for providing more than 10 subsidised mental health care sessions. In Germany, publicly funded psychotherapy treatment typically begins with 12–24 sessions and may extend further based on clinical need.

Public Support:

Broad Support:

The following groups have called for ‘more Medicare-rebated psychology sessions for those who need it.’ However, they have not explicitly called for increasing the cap to 20 sessions.

This list reflects publicly stated positions and should not necessarily be taken as endorsement of this specific brief.

News Coverage:

The Sydney Morning Herald - “Psychologists raise alarm six months after Medicare sessions were slashed”. The article reported on how patients are affected by the government's decision to reduce mental health care to only 10 sessions. By: Natassia Chrysanthos | 23 July 2023 - Read the article here.
ABS News - “Cuts to subsidised psychology sessions causing clients to ‘ration’ care, health workers warn”. The article captured the views of Dr Davis-McCabe, president of the Australian Psychological Society, who rebutted the government’s argument by stating that removing the 10 additional sessions provided during the pandemic would not improve access for the groups that were already missing out on mental health care. By: Stephanie Dalzell | 25 January 2023 - Read the article here.
The Australian - “Labor psych session cut ‘hit young women’”. The article reported that the decision to halve Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions from 20 to 10 disproportionately harms young women. By: The Australian, insights by Dr. Catriona Davis-McCabe | 20 January 2023 - Read the article here.
ABC News - “Government criticised for cutting cheaper mental health sessions despite review saying they should continue”. The article reported criticism of the government's decision to cut the Better Access cap to 10. By: Stephanie Dalzell | 13 December 2022 - Read the article here.
The Sydney Morning Herald - “Ten psych sessions is not enough after the years we’ve had”. The article reported how reverting to a cap of 10 sessions under Better Access is harmful to patients. By: Daniel D’Hotman | 13 December 2022 - Read the article here.

Where to go to learn more:

(2022) Evaluation of Better Access: Conclusions and Recommendations | University of Melbourne - This submission evaluated the Better Access initiative, particularly the impact of the additional 10 sessions provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, and recommended retaining those 10 sessions (making the cap 20 sessions) as they were beneficial for those who accessed them. Read the full report here.
(2024) Australian Government response to the Better Access evaluation | Department of Health and Aged Care - This report captured the response of the Australian Government to the findings of the Better Access evaluation. Read the report here.
(2020) Mental Health Inquiry Report | Productivity Commission - This report discussed the key influences of mental health on productivity and the economy in Australia, and recommended trialling 20 mental health care sessions under Better Access. Read the report here.
(2025) Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement Review | Productivity Commission - This report reviewed the National Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Agreement and found it ineffective. It also reported that affordability was a barrier to adequate mental health care. Read the report here.
(2023) Mental health needs lost in sideshow debate | Patrick McGorry - This article discussed how the removal of 10 additional sessions provided during the pandemic will not save costs for the government. Read the article here.
(n.d.) Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 80170 - Find out more about subsidised psychology services here.

Human Perspective:

Content Warning: Assault, trauma recovery and financial distress

Sarah is a single mother whose son, Alex, developed post-traumatic stress disorder following an assault. Alex’s psychologist recommended fortnightly therapy sessions to support recovery. With 20 subsidised sessions provided during the COVID-19 pandemic, Sarah could afford to stick to the treatment plan. But after the Better Access initiative was reduced from 20 to 10 sessions, she could no longer afford fortnightly sessions and they had to move to monthly appointments instead. This significantly affected and prolonged Alex’s recovery. Sarah was also forced to move into a cheaper rental to afford Alex’s ongoing treatments. She felt fearful and frustrated, and believed that mental health treatment should be treated like any other essential healthcare, where patients are not pushed to ration care due to cost.

To protect the anonymity of those involved, this is a fictionalised account drawn from an amalgamation of real-life stories, experiences and testimonials gathered during the research process for this brief. Any resemblance to actual individuals is purely coincidental.

Conflict of interest/acknowledgment statement:

N/A.

Support

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Disclaimers

Please review all FORE disclaimers here.

Reference list:

Australian Association of Psychologists Inc. (2025). Restore Better Access to 20 sessions per year [Fact sheet]. https://www.aapi.org.au/common/Uploaded%20files/AAPi/FACTSHEET%202_Restore%2020%20Sessions.pdf

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2025, May 20). Prevalence and impact of mental illness. Australian Government. https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health/overview/prevalence-and-impact-of-mental-illness

Dalzell, S. (2023, January 25). Cuts to subsidised psychology sessions causing clients to ‘ration’ care, health workers warn. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-01-25/mental-health-clients-ration-cheaper-psychology-after-cuts/101885652 ?

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. (n.d). Medicare Benefits Schedule - Item 80170. Australian Government. https://www9.health.gov.au/mbs/fullDisplay.cfm?type=item&q=80170&qt=item

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. (2025). Fact sheet for patients: Better Access to psychiatrists, psychologists and general practitioners through the MBS initiative. Australian Government. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2025-10/better-access-fact-sheet-patients_0.pdf

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing. (2026, February 6). Better Access initiative. Australian Government. https://www.health.gov.au/our-work/better-access-initiative?language=en

Dudley, E. (2023, January 20). Labor’s psych session cuts ‘hit young women’. The Australian. https://psychology.org.au/about-us/news-and-media/aps-in-the-media/2023/labors-psych-session-cuts-hit-young-women

Enticott, J., & Lakra, V. (2025, March 28). The Coalition wants to increase Medicare psychology rebates from 10 to 20 sessions. Here’s what happened last time. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/the-coalition-wants-to-increase-medicare-psychology-rebates-from-10-to-20-sessions-heres-what-happened-last-time-249606

Grounds, E. (2024, February 10). Health Minister Mark Butler ignored a recommendation to keep extra Medicare-subsidised psychology sessions. Young people are suffering. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-02-10/young-people-psychology-sessions/103442398

Manfield, E., & Dhanji, K. (2024, January 19). A year after the government halved psychology subsidies, Australians are delaying or foregoing treatment. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-01-19/anger-and-fear-as-australians-wait-for-mental-health-supports/103365124

McGorry, P. (2023, January 9). Mental health needs lost in sideshow debate. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/mental-health-needs-lost-in-sideshow-debate-20230103-p5c9zy.html

Packer, C. (2024, December 10). ‘Crisis point’: Experts warn Aussies are being robbed of the chance to manage their mental health. Herald Sun. https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/breaking-news/crisis-point-experts-warn-aussies-are-being-robbed-of-the-chance-to-manage-their-mental-health/news-story/42156fa0fd1d9df2155c11afbb3787cf.

Pirkis, J., Currier, D., Meredith, H., & Mihalopoulos, C. (2022). Evaluation of Better Access: Conclusions and recommendations. University of Melbourne. https://www.health.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-12/conclusions-and-recommendations-evaluation-of-the-better-access-initiative.pdf

Roe, I. (2022, November 12). Federal government lobbied to extend mental health initiative for bulk-billed sessions. ABC News. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-11-12/government-lobbied-to-extend-mental-health-initiative/101636386

Society for Psychotherapy Research. (n.d.). Europe chapter - Germany. https://www.psychotherapyresearch.org/page/SPR-EU-Germany