Items 80125–80140
Better Access — Mental Health Occupational Therapist (individual focussed psychological strategies)
Focussed psychological strategies (FPS) health service provided to a patient individually and in person by an eligible occupational therapist under Better Access. Item billed depends on duration (≥20 min and <50 min, or ≥50 min) and service location.
Plain-English summary. See MBS Online for the verbatim descriptor of each item.
Which item should I bill?
All variants share the same documentation requirements (below). The item number you bill is determined by the actual face-to-face duration and the location.
| Item | Time | Location | Typical use | MBS Online |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 80125 | ≥20 min and <50 min | Consulting rooms | Standard FPS session | Open |
| 80130 | ≥20 min and <50 min | Other location | Home / hospital / school visit | Open |
| 80135 | ≥50 min | Consulting rooms | Initial assessment / extended FPS session | Open |
| 80140 | ≥50 min | Other location | Initial assessment — home / hospital | Open |
Requirements to bill
Conditions imposed by the descriptor that must be met to claim any item in this family.
- 1Current referral from a referring practitioner — typically a GP under a Mental Health Treatment Plan, or a psychiatrist or paediatrician.
- 2Provider must be on the Medicare register as an eligible occupational therapist for Better Access items.
- 3Service must be provided to the patient individually and in person (or by an approved telehealth equivalent item).
- 4At the completion of a course of treatment, the referring practitioner must review the need for further treatment.
- 5On completion of the course of treatment, the OT must give a written report to the referring practitioner.
- 6Up to 10 individual Better Access sessions per calendar year (with a referrer review after the initial 6).
- 7Item claimed must correspond to the actual face-to-face duration of the clinical service.
Your notes must show
Documentation tests — what clinical notes need to demonstrate to survive a PSR audit, regardless of which variant you bill.
- Date, start time, end time, location, and item number claimed.
- Referral details — referring practitioner, MHTP date, sessions attended, sessions remaining.
- Presenting issue and link to the MHTP diagnosis / formulation.
- Focussed psychological strategy applied this session and rationale (e.g. CBT, behavioural activation; sensory-based intervention only where it forms a focussed psychological strategy).
- Functional goals from an occupational performance perspective and how the session targeted them.
- Mental state and clinical content of the session.
- Risk assessment where clinically indicated, and the action taken.
- Explicit reference to MHTP goals and progress toward them.
- For initial assessments (≥50 min): full history, occupation-focused formulation, treatment plan aligned with MHTP.
- At end-of-course: confirmation a written report has been provided to the referring practitioner.
Common audit failures
Patterns the Professional Services Review scheme and Medicare audits flag.
- Session duration not documented — item time threshold cannot be substantiated.
- Item claimed does not match the actual face-to-face duration.
- Notes describe equipment prescription, sensory profiling, or general OT intervention without showing a focussed psychological strategy.
- Notes never reference the MHTP goals.
- Missing or expired referral on file.
- Sessions billed beyond the calendar-year cap, or after session 6 without referrer review.
- No end-of-course written report to the referring practitioner.
- Travel, documentation, or telephone follow-up time included in the face-to-face duration.
Related MBS items
GP Mental Health Treatment Plan — preparation (20 to less than 40 minutes)
GP Mental Health Treatment Plan — preparation (at least 40 minutes)
Better Access — Clinical Psychologist (individual psychological therapy)
Better Access — Registered Psychologist (individual focussed psychological strategies)
Better Access — Mental Health Social Worker (individual focussed psychological strategies)
Better Access — Mental Health Occupational Therapist (group)
Diagnostic codes commonly billed under these items
ICD-10-AM diagnoses whose Medicare pathway includes this family of items. Click through to the diagnostic-code reference for differential codes and clinical context.
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Alcohol Use
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Opioid Use
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Cannabinoid Use
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Sedatives or Hypnotics
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Cocaine Use
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Other Stimulants Including Caffeine
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Hallucinogens
Substance Use Disorders
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Due to Multiple Drug Use
Substance Use Disorders
Schizophrenia
Psychotic Disorders
Schizotypal Disorder
Psychotic Disorders
Persistent Delusional Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Acute and Transient Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Induced Delusional Disorder
Psychotic Disorders
Schizoaffective Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Other Nonorganic Psychotic Disorders
Psychotic Disorders
Unspecified Nonorganic Psychosis
Psychotic Disorders
Manic Episode
Mood Disorders
Bipolar Affective Disorder
Mood Disorders
Depressive Episode
Mood Disorders
Recurrent Depressive Disorder
Mood Disorders
Persistent Mood Disorders
Mood Disorders
Other Recurrent Mood Disorders — Unipolar Mania
Mood Disorders
Other Mood (Affective) Disorders
Mood Disorders
Unspecified Mood Disorder
Mood Disorders
Phobic Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Other Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
Anxiety Disorders
Reaction to Severe Stress and Adjustment Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Dissociative (Conversion) Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Somatoform Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Other Neurotic Disorders
Anxiety Disorders
Nonorganic Sleep Disorders
Behavioural Syndromes
Sexual Dysfunction Not Caused by Organic Disorder or Disease
Behavioural Syndromes
Mental and Behavioural Disorders Associated with the Puerperium
Behavioural Syndromes
Psychological and Behavioural Factors Associated with Disorders or Diseases Classified Elsewhere
Behavioural Syndromes
Abuse of Non-Dependence-Producing Substances
Behavioural Syndromes
Specific Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders
Mixed and Other Personality Disorders
Personality Disorders
Enduring Personality Changes Not Attributable to Brain Damage and Disease
Personality Disorders
Habit and Impulse Disorders
Personality Disorders
Gender Identity Disorders
Personality Disorders
Disorders of Sexual Preference
Personality Disorders
Psychological and Behavioural Disorders Associated with Sexual Development and Orientation
Personality Disorders
Other Disorders of Adult Personality and Behaviour
Personality Disorders
Specific Developmental Disorders of Speech and Language
Developmental Disorders
Specific Developmental Disorders of Scholastic Skills
Developmental Disorders
Specific Developmental Disorder of Motor Function
Developmental Disorders
Mixed Specific Developmental Disorders
Developmental Disorders
Other Disorders of Psychological Development
Developmental Disorders
Unspecified Disorder of Psychological Development
Developmental Disorders
Hyperkinetic Disorders / ADHD
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Conduct Disorders
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Mixed Disorders of Conduct and Emotions
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Emotional Disorders with Onset Specific to Childhood
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Disorders of Social Functioning with Onset in Childhood
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Tic Disorders
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Other Behavioural and Emotional Disorders with Onset in Childhood
Childhood & Adolescent Disorders
Templates that document these items
Note templates inside Grounded Scribe that produce documentation aligned to these MBS items.
In-depth reading in the Library
Source authority
Documentation tests on this page reference the descriptor conditions and PSR-audit patterns covered in our existing Library guides. Always confirm current rules against the official descriptor.
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