Programs - Access to Allied Psychological Services (ATAPS)
What is Access to Allied Psychological Services? (ATAPS)
The ATAPS program is a Better Outcomes in Mental Health Initiative (BOiMH) funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aging managed locally by the Bankstown GP Division Inc
The ATAPS program provides a referral pathway for GPs to refer patients with mental health disorders to low cost psychological services endorsed by the Division. GPs access services by making a telephone call to the Division. The program links GPs to psychologists to provide patients, who would benefit from Focused Psychological Strategies with access to this service.
How to refer
To refer a patient to a psychologist registered under this program you will need to contact the Division to receive a Unique Identification Number for your patient. This number is used to authorise payment for the session. No personal details of patients are faxed to the Division.
Who is Eligible?
ATAPS pathway is designed for health care card holders, low income earners, culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities, youth, and patients experiencing financial difficulties.
Patients with mild to moderate presentations of the following disorders may be eligible:
- Alcohol use disorders
- Phobic disorders
- Generalized anxiety
- Adjustment disorder
- Unexplained somatic complaints
- Eating disorders
- Sexual disorders
- Conduct disorder
- Bereavement disorders
- Drug use disorders
- Depression
- Panic disorder
- Mixed anxiety and depression
- Dissociative (conversion) disorder
- Neurasthenia
- Sleep problems
- Hyperkinetic (attention deficit)
- Enuresis
- Mental disorder, not otherwise specified
(Note: dementia, delirium, tobacco use disorder and mental retardation are excluded from treatment under this service)
Psychological strategies which may be provided include:
- Psycho-education
- Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy
- Relaxation strategies
- Skills training
- Interpersonal therapy
Alternatively GPs can refer to psychologists through Medicare referral route by completing a 2710 Mental Health Treatment Plan and standard referral letter. This may however in incur a further cost to your patients.
GP MBS Item numbers
Please note these items do not require practice accreditation.
GP Mental Health Care Plan (item 2710):
$156.85 rebate (schedule fee $156.85)
GP Mental Health Review (item 2712)
$78.45 rebate (schedule fee $104.55)
NB: This item cannot be claimed within 4 weeks of a 2710 or within 3 months of a 2712 unless there has been a significant change in the patient’s condition.
GP Mental Health Consultation (item 2713)
$69 rebate (schedule fee $69, 20+ min consultation
ATAPS dowloads
ATAPS GP Referral Letter Template
ATAPS Referral Form to be completed by GP
GP Mental health treatment plan (MBS item 2710) patient assessment form
Kessler Screening and Treatment Monitoring Instrument (k10)
Patient Information sheet
More information
Please contact Dianne Lewis at the Division