As of 1 November 2006, new Medicare rebates became available for chronic disease prevention and mental health care.
The new Medicare Benefits Schedule items for mental health will make Medicare rebates available for GPs to provide early intervention, assessment and management of patients with mental disorders as part of a GP Mental Health Care Plan.
Also available are Medicare items to support psychiatrists to see more patients and rebates for psychological assessment and therapy services provided by clinical psychologists and other allied mental health professionals.
A health check for people aged between 45 and 49 years who are at risk of developing a chronic disease will also attract a Medicare rebate. The aim of the health check is to assist with the detection and prevention of chronic disease and enable early intervention strategies to be put in place where appropriate.
This new item is in addition to health checks currently provided under Medicare for indigenous people and people aged over 75 years.