What is the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program?
The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Program aims to improve the quality of care provided through general practice to Australians with a mental illness. The program comprises two components.
- Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS) - enables General Practitioners (GPs) to refer consumers to allied health professionals who deliver focused psychological strategies; and
- GP Psych Support Service - provides general practitioners with access to patient management advice from psychiatrists.
Responsibility for the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Program rests with the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing.
Why is this important?
Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care has addressed significant barriers to the early identification and treatment of mental health disorders in Australia.
ATAPS provides an alternative referral pathway to Medicare funded psychological services for people seeking assistance, via their general practitioners for treatment of their mental illness.
Who benefits?
All Australians with a mental illness.
How does it work?
Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care improves community access to quality primary mental health services.
The ATAPS component provides funding to secure services from allied health professionals to support general practice delivery of mental health care.
Divisions of General Practice are allocated an annual budget, through a funding agreement with the Department of Health and Ageing, to broker allied mental health services for patients of general practitioners who would not otherwise access these services. Divisions are able to adopt a model that best suits their local arrangements and as a result a number of service delivery models are being used across the country.
The Royal Australian College of General Practice is currently engaged through a funding agreement with the Department of Health and Ageing to deliver the GP Psych Support Service. This Service provides GPs with phone, fax and internet/email access to patient management advice from a psychiatrist within 24 hours of their request.
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What funding is attached to this program?
The 2001-02 Budget provided $120.4 million over four years from 2001. Further funding of $142.7 was provided in July 2006 to continue the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program to 2008-09. The Australian Government recently announced that this Program will be ongoing.
When did the Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care program start?
The Better Outcomes in Mental Health Care Program started in July 2001.
Further information
Please send an email to: mentalhealth@health.gov.au.
Page currency, Latest update: 23 June, 2008