By Rachel Clun
Almost half of all people who get 10 annual Medicare-subsidised therapy sessions use just three or fewer, leading the Productivity Commission to call for an urgent review of the Better Access Scheme.
It comes after the government announced in the October budget people would be able to access twice as many subsidised psychology sessions, taking the annual total to 20.
The report was also critical of the current GP treatment model, saying many people were not accessing the right treatments.
The Productivity Commission report on mental health recommended the Better Access Scheme be "rigorously evaluated" as a matter of priority, as the drop-out rate showed many people were not accessing services that were right for them.
The Commission also estimated 10 per cent of people using those rebated sessions, who have moderate or higher-intensity needs, would benefit from further sessions, and recommended a trial on the number of provided sessions.
In October, Health Minister Greg Hunt announced the scheme would be increased from 10 sessions to 20 for anyone who needed them.
A spokesman for the minister said that doubling of sessions was a trial that will run until June 30, 2022, and the government would also be commissioning a review of that initiative.
"The expansion of Better Access also recognises that the impacts of COVID-19 may have exacerbated existing conditions for some people, leading to increased demand for services," the spokesman said.
"While currently just over 10 per cent of people use more than 10 Better Access sessions, those that do are those most in need of more intensive psychological care and it is important that they have access to services provided under the initiative."